Grindr allegedly used to lure robbery victims in Norwich, one man arrested

Norfolk Police are investigating three robberies in Norwich where suspects used Grindr to arrange meetings with victims. A man in his 30s has been arrested and released on bail.

Grindr linked to string of robberies at Norwich cemetery and skatepark

Google News CA — Crime (EN) reports that Norfolk Police believe the dating app Grindr was used to lure robbery victims to two locations in Norwich between 21 August and 29 August.

Three incidents took place — two at Gildencroft Quaker Cemetery on Chatham Street and one at Gunton skatepark on Marl Pit Lane. In two of the three cases, suspects used the app to arrange a meeting with the victim before the alleged attack.

The first incident occurred at approximately 11:13 BST on 21 August at the cemetery. A victim who arrived at the arranged meeting point was allegedly assaulted and had his phone stolen. Police said more than £1,000 was subsequently transferred out of a bank account.

On 29 August, a second alleged victim walking through the same cemetery was confronted by three men wearing balaclavas who attempted to rob him.

Later that afternoon, at around 14:04, a third victim met a man near Gunton after making contact through the dating app. He was allegedly assaulted by one individual while two others joined and stole his phone. A total of £3,000 was transferred into a bank account.

A man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and attempted robbery. He has been released on police bail until 29 November.

Detective Chief Inspector John Beales said the reports were being taken "extremely seriously" and that investigators were examining the "motives of those exploiting the app." He urged anyone who had experienced a similar incident or had concerns about suspicious activity linked to social media to contact Norfolk Police.

A Grindr spokesperson said the company took its role "as a connector for the queer community seriously and work diligently to provide a safe environment for our users." The company said it employs "robust moderation, in-app reporting and blocking tools" to protect users, and urged them to use the app's video calling feature to verify contacts before meeting in person and to report illegal behaviour to local authorities.

Source: Google News CA — Crime (EN)