Brazen subway robbery caught on video

A brazen subway robbery was caught on video and uploaded to Reddit on Monday night.

While the video was taken in Russia, it was posted in response to a similar incident that was recently seen on the TTC subway.

In both cases, the thieves waited until just before the subway doors chimed closed before springing into action, according to a post on the social news website.

In the case of the TTC robbery, the two men scoped out a victim who was on the subway and using his cellphone in plain sight. They then grabbed it from his hand and jumped onto the platform. The train pulled away and the thieves were able to casually walk away.

Watch the video of the Russia robbery below:

“This isn’t a new modus operandi,” TTC spokesman Brad Ross told CityNews on Tuesday.

“To wait for that moment to ‘snatch and grab’ any cellphones, iPods, any sort of personal device — it’s a fairly well-used tactic on the subway,” he said.

Ross said that the TTC is a “microcosm” of the entire city and these devices become more popular, thefts are also becoming more common.

“It’s one of the reasons we tell our riders to be aware of their surroundings and to make sure their personal belongings are secured or out of sight,” Ross said.

More than 30,000 cellphones and other handheld devices have been reported stolen to Toronto police since 2004, according to a published report.

From Jan. 1, 2004, to Sept. 24, 2013, there were 11,925 robberies and 21,680 thefts of cellphones and other handheld devices, the Toronto Star reported.

How to protect your phone & data

The wireless industry has set up a database that will blacklist lost or stolen cellphones to prevent them from being reactivated and sold on the black market.

If your smartphone is reported lost or stolen, wireless carriers would “blacklist” the phone to keep it from being used by someone else, according to the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association (CWTA).

The CWTA has also launched a consumer information website ProtectYourData.ca that will offer tips on how to secure cellphone data and how to avoid having your cellphone stolen.

It will be up to consumers to report that their phone has been stolen and to have it deactivated. The theft should also be reported to police, the CWTA said.

How to protect your phone

• Avoid walking by yourself after dark, especially in unfamiliar areas.
• The “buddy system” is a great way to stay safe.
• Walk with confidence to deter would-be thieves.
• Always be aware of your surroundings, and be alert.
• Plan out where you are headed, the route you will take and how you will travel.
• Let your family members or friends know where you are going, and when you will be returning.
• Do not send text messages/take calls while walking. Remain attentive to your surroundings and to those around you when using your device.
• Parks, public transit stations, parking lots and ATM machines are common places where personal thefts occur. Be extra prudent when at these locations.
• Discretion is best — electronic devices of all kinds are attractive to thieves. MP3 players and other devices should be used discreetly at all times.
• Electronic music players can be a distraction from your surroundings. Keep volumes low and understand that earphones may identify the type of device you are using, making you a target for thieves.

All tips from the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association