POLICE are struggling to cope with a rocketing number of mobile phone thefts and robberies.

A survey by The Northern Echo has revealed that the number of phones stolen in Darlington alone has almost tripled in the past two years.

The survey coincides with a national Home Office study which shows that710,000 mobile phones were reported stolen last year.

Teenagers are the main targets and often fall victim to highly organised gangs prowling towns and cities, say police.

They admit that there is little they can do to prevent the thefts, other than warning users to be more security conscious.

Phone theft figures are not collated by some forces, but in County Durham 1,086 mobiles were stolen during 2000. This included 230 in the Darlington area.

But this figure has since almost trebled, with 625 phones stolen in Darlington last year.

Detective Sergeant Alec Francis, of Darlington police, said: "We are racking up about 50 phones stolen a month. Typically, at least one of those is also stolen when physical violence is used against the owner."

Earlier this year, Durham Crown Court heard how a 13-year-old girl was put in an arm lock and hit in the face by a teenager who stole her phone.

The attacker, Paul Elliot, 20, of Ushaw Moor, near Durham, was sent to a young offenders' institution for two years.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: "This is a huge problem that has exploded over recent years. Mobile phones are so popular - all the kids have them, they are highly visible and very easy to steal."

The spokesman said that people owning mobiles should take steps to secure them.

This includes keeping phones in a secure place, such as zipped pockets or handbags, and not leaving them unattended in bars and other public places.