Smartphone thieves target bars and commuters

Eastern European gangs are targeting pubs and nightclubs in lucrative swoops on smartphones, gardaí have warned.

And Irish criminals, often youths on bicycles, are targeting evening-time commuters using their phones, and other young people.

Around 8,000 smartphones, valued about €3m, were reported stolen last year in the greater Dublin area. More than 1,000 phones, valued at €400,000, have been stolen in the city centre alone in the first three months of this year.