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Gang Of Thieves Use Grindr To Rob Gay Men In London

Grindr

A gang has been using gay dating app Grindr to target and rob gay men in London, police have revealed.

In December, the Metropolitan Police released a statement confirming that two men had been robbed at knifepoint after arranging to meet another man on the app.

It is believed that the gang was spending hours scrolling through the app to find and arrange meetings with their victims.

Both attacks were carried out by a gang of four in Croydon, south London within 48 hours of one another.

The two victims were left shaken by the robbery, but were not seriously injured.

DC Sheree Yates from Croydon Police said: “The victims thankfully did not suffer serious physical injuries but have been left very shaken by these incidents.

“We are keen to identify the suspects as soon as possible and are appealing to anyone with any information to contact the police.

She added: “We would also like to take this opportunity to reassure the LGBT community that we are doing everything we can to arrest these men.

“I would urge everyone who uses online dating apps and sites to take steps to help them to stay safe whilst meeting strangers.”

A spokesperson for Grindr said: “Grindr has always encouraged users to treat the platform as they would any other social interaction in their lives, with a measure of caution and an awareness of their own safety.”

“There are many ways to verify and take steps to protect yourself, from meeting in more public spaces to getting phone numbers and speaking beforehand.

“We take these matters very seriously and cooperate with local law enforcement at all turns where we can.”

Danielle White

Danielle is a Junior Reporter at Global Dating Insights. Originally from Reading, she has studied Multimedia Journalism at Bournemouth University and has a passion for writing and reporting. She enjoys travelling and likes to spend her free time socialising with friends and attending music events.

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