TWO teenagers from Islington have pleaded guilty to using a stolen moped to commit mobile phone snatch thefts across north London.

They were caught as part of Operation Attrition, launched by the Met to clamp down on this type of crime. It has stepped up operations in recent weeks following a rise in moped crime in January.

Last Wednesday, officers spotted the teenagers entering an address in Islington before leaving on a stolen motorcycle. Between 8am and 10.30am they went on a phone snatch spree across Islington, Camden, Haringey, Hackney and Westminster.

Later, they were again observed by officers as they returned to the storage location in Islington. They were arrested by waiting officers.

Two garage lock-ups were searched and three motorcycles and 12 stolen mobile phones recovered.

On Tuesday, the teen­agers, aged 15 and 16, both pleaded guilty to six counts of theft and breach of a criminal behaviour order at Highbury Corner Youth Court.

The boys, who cannot be named because of their age, were bailed to appear at the same court for sentencing later this month.

January saw a marked increase in motorcycle-enabled mobile phone thefts in Camden and Islington, with about 35 offences taking place each day.

Scotland Yard said officers attached to Operation Attrition had been “proactively policing crime hotspots”, developing intelligence and conducting plain-clothes patrols to target the “organised criminal network” involved in the theft and handling of stolen phones.

Over three weeks, more than 30 arrests have been made. Officers have recovered in excess of 15 stolen motorcycles, 80 stolen mobile phones, a stun gun and a large quantity of drugs.