London's LGBTQ community is being warned about a sophisticated burglary gang that has been using dating app Grindr to identify and target wealthy victims across the capital.
According to Metropolitan Police intelligence, the organised crime group created fake profiles on the popular dating platform to connect with gay men, then tracked their locations to burgle their homes while they were away or occupied.
Sophisticated Operation Uncovered
The criminal operation came to light during a separate investigation into a prolific phone theft gang responsible for stealing mobile devices worth approximately £2 million. Detectives discovered that the same group had diversified their criminal activities to include this targeted burglary campaign.
Police sources indicate the gang employed advanced techniques to identify high-value targets through their social media presence and dating profiles, specifically focusing on individuals living in affluent London neighbourhoods.
Community Alert Issued
Authorities have issued safety warnings to dating app users, particularly those within the LGBTQ community, urging increased vigilance about sharing location data and personal information online.
Safety recommendations include:
- Being cautious about sharing real-time location data on dating apps
- Avoiding linking social media profiles that reveal wealth or property details
- Meeting new contacts in public places initially
- Informing friends about dates and expected return times
Broader Criminal Network
This revelation forms part of a larger crackdown on organised crime in London, where police have identified multiple gangs using technology to facilitate various criminal enterprises. The Grindr burglary operation demonstrates how digital platforms are increasingly being weaponised by sophisticated criminal networks.
Scotland Yard continues to investigate the full extent of the gang's activities and is working with dating app companies to enhance user safety features and prevent similar exploitation in the future.
