A new form of pickpocketing is flourishing in central London, with police reporting an increase in thefts of expensive personal items by motorcyclists. The perpetrators are typically boys aged 14-19, often stealing watches and mobile phones, sometimes threatening their victims with a knife. The motorcycles used are usually stolen or without registration numbers, making them untraceable by city surveillance cameras. After the thefts, the motorcycles are often discarded or set on fire. The attacks are occurring even in neighborhoods considered 'safe.' Scotland Yard has issued advice on how to protect oneself from these types of thefts, emphasizing the importance of carrying personal belongings in a way that prevents them from being quickly snatched.