Grindr exploited to lure robbery victims in Norwich, police say

Norfolk Police believe suspects used dating app Grindr to arrange meetings before robbing victims in Norwich. Three incidents occurred between 21 and 29 August.

Dating app Grindr linked to series of robberies in Norwich

Norfolk Police believe suspects used dating app Grindr to lure victims into robbery traps across Norwich, bbc.co.uk reports, with three incidents recorded between 21 and 29 August.

Two of the alleged offences took place at Gildencroft Quaker Cemetery on Chatham Street, while a third occurred at Gunton skatepark in the city. In at least two cases, the dating app was used by suspects to arrange a meeting with the victim beforehand.

The first alleged robbery took place at the cemetery at around 11:13 BST on 21 August. After arriving at a location arranged through the app, the victim was assaulted and had his phone stolen. Police said more than £1,000 was subsequently transferred from his account.

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

Later that same day, a third victim met a man at Gunton in Marl Pit Lane, Norwich, at approximately 14:04, following contact made through the dating app. He was allegedly assaulted by one man while two others intervened and took his phone. A total of £3,000 was transferred out of his account.

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

Detective Chief Inspector John Beales said the reports were being treated "extremely seriously" and that officers were looking into 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 come forward.

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 measures including "robust moderation, in-app reporting and blocking tools" were in place to protect users, and encouraged anyone encountering suspicious behaviour to report it either within the app or to local authorities. It also recommended using the platform's video calling feature to verify contacts before meeting in person.

Source: Google News UK — Crime (en)