While walking to East Croydon Station in George Street I saw a mugging by two young men on another two men of similar age.

At first I didn't realise what was happening. The two muggers were waiting outside a phone box.

When two others walking towards me got near them, one grabbed hold of one of the victims and started jostling - I thought they may have known each other and were messing around.

The other victim was then approached by the other mugger and handed over his phone. At this point I realised what was happening.

It all happened very quickly. I asked the two victims if they were ok and why the bigger of the two had handed his phone over to someone who was much smaller than him.

He said it was because he'd had a knife. I wasn't surprised he co-operated so quickly.

It was only on the train home I realised the danger of the situation and called Croydon Police. They put me through to a Metropolitan Police Communication Officer who said there was nothing they could do unless the victim reported the crime.

They then asked me if I expected them to "magic an extra policeman" to patrol the area. He advised me to call the Home Office in the morning.

They advised me to call British Transport Police, who then advised me to call Croydon police station. What a waste of time.

What does it take to put a few extra police in an area where someone was recently stabbed just two weeks ago?

These muggers seemed well organised, knew what they were doing and may well be back in the same spot.

I mentioned this to the various organisations I spoke to but all I kept hearing was "there's nothing we can do."

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