POLICE delivered a hard-hitting message to teenage gangs stealing mobile phones off youngsters that their behaviour will not be tolerated.

Detective Inspector Paul Diggle told a press conference yesterday that police would hunt down members of the bully gangs.

He said: "This problem must be addressed. We are not willing to allow a situation where teenagers cannot walk through the town centre because of these bullies.

"What the gangs do not realise is that this crime is taken very seriously. They could be charged with robbery and end up with a criminal record."

Police are cracking down on the street crimes which have struck fear into youngsters who are scared of going into High Wycombe town centre.

One teenage victim, who did not want to be named, said: "I have been robbed about 15 times within the space of a few months. You just don't feel safe going into town anymore."

The gangs have been approaching youngsters in recent weeks and asking to look at their mobile phone or asking for a cigarette and then robbing the victims.

High Wycombe police are taking the crime so seriously they have stepped up uniformed police patrols in problem areas in both the town centre and on The Rye and are carrying out a plain clothes operation.

Det Insp Diggle, of High Wycombe CID said: "What we need to do is get the message across to victims, that it must be reported to the police because it is not acceptable behaviour."

He said waving a mobile phone around was like "waving £100 in the air" and if they are confronted by gangs who ask for their mobiles they should say "no" and shout for help.

He also delivered a hard-hitting message that there is a police operation and bullies will be caught because they are being watched.

Last week Midweek highlighted several frightening incidences involving teenagers on The Rye.