by Ross Semple
Victims of attacks are “very shaken”.
An armed London gang has been targeting men who use Grindr – and robbing them at knifepoint.
The Independent reports that two men were robbed while being held at knifepoint by men who made contact with them on the hookup app. The same four men are suspected in both attacks, and have not been apprehended at the time of writing.
Speaking with the BBC, Sheree Yates – Senior Detective Constable with Croydon Police – said: “We are keen to identify the suspects as soon as possible and are appealing to anyone with any information to contact the police.
“I would urge everyone who uses online dating apps and sites to take steps to help them to stay safe whilst meeting strangers.”
A spokesperson for Grindr urged users of the app to remain vigilant and be cautious: “There are many ways to verify and take steps to protect yourself, from meeting in more public spaces to getting phone numbers and speaking beforehand.
“We take these matters very seriously and cooperate with local law enforcement at all turns where we can.”