Security van robberies in Croydon have risen a staggering 1,200 per cent in less than five years.

Information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act shows in 2004-2005 there were three cash-in-transit robberies whereas in 2008-2009 there were 40.

According to police sources, youths are shying away from street robberies which, if committed with a knife, will almost certainly result in jail time and are opting for robbing cash delivery drivers instead.

The Crown Prosecution Service revealed sentences for the two offences often result in the same jail time being served because in the case of robberies on security drivers, they tend not to use weapons.

A police source said: “The kids, which is what a lot of these robbers are, have realised they will get the same amount of jail time for giving a security guard a bit of a kicking as they would for holding a knife to someone for an iPhone.

"They also get away with much more money.

"The problem is security guards are told to give up the cases containing the money without a fight and they know this.”

There has also been an increase of cash-in-transit robberies across the entire city. They have risen nearly 300 per cent from 143 to 549.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector, Mark Field, from the Flying Squad, said: “Cash-in-transit robbery is a significant problem for London boroughs and the industry.

“We will continue to work with boroughs and the industry to proactively target those involved in violent cash-in-transit robberies and have set up Operation Vanguard to tackle this crime.

“Vanguard combines high-visibility police patrols to deter the robberies, as well as covert tactics to prevent and apprehend those involved.

“We believe we are having an impact. There has been a significant decrease in cash-in-transit robberies so far this year in Croydon.”

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