The shutters were down at Gadgets Fix after the police raid

Officers executed a warrant at Gadgets Fix electrical repairs shop on Albion Street in the city centre yesterday morning (Jan 22) after reports that it was selling stolen property.

They seized 15 mobile phones and arrested a 52-year-old man and two other members of staff, both aged 17.

The operation also saw checks carried out at the company’s sister premises on The Headrow.

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Sgt Andy Berriman, from City Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “There was some information we had received previously suggesting stolen property was being sold.

“We then got some specific intelligence that enabled us to get the warrant.

“There is a big issue with phone theft in the city centre and we will act on information that we are given.”

Phone theft is one of most common crimes in Leeds city centre.

Last February the Yorkshire Evening Post revealed how organised gangs of thieves were travelling to the city to snatch handsets, largely from unsuspecting revellers on nights out.

Two months later security organisation Business Against Crime in Leeds said mobile phones accounted for more than 70 per cent of all items stolen from people in the city.

In December three men were arrested after police seized 90 suspected stolen mobile phones during morning raids on city centre shops in Leeds.