Moped gangs are robbing 54 times a day across London and are even holding training sessions on how to snatch phones before they hit the streets.

Shocking new figures show police are facing unprecedented numbers of organised scooter crimes with incidents up a staggering 1766 per cent since 2014.

Up until the end of May there were 8,192 crimes involving scooters - almost as many recorded in 2016.

Shocking new figures show police are facing unprecedented numbers of organised scooter crimes with incidents up a staggering 1766 per cent since 2014. Pictured: Police wanted to trace two youths carrying a machete earlier this week

If crooks continue to offend at the same rate, 2017 will see around 19,710 thefts in total - up 116 per cent from last year.

And with criminals acting unpredictably - police say they are concerned about the rise in acid attacks in conjunction with moped riders.

Superintendent Mark Payne, of the Metropolitan Police, said thieves were mainly after mobile phones and would practice training before striking.

Speaking to The Sun, he said: 'The thieves practice snatching phones from each other on stolen mopeds before heading on to the streets.

A grainy image captured from CCTV footage (above) shows two men riding pillion on a moped with helmets on. Mr Pearce was reportedly approached by two men on a moped in the attack at 12.15am in Greenwich, south-east London. One was armed with a gun; the other with a knife

'They aim to snatch a phone while a victim is talking so the device is unlocked and they can reset it and sell it on.

'Or they will steal a phone which is locked and sell it for its parts. It is a big market.

'A large proportion of thefts are carried out around train stations where people will look at their phone for emails and messages before and after journeys.'

The rise in moped crime contributed to a seven per cent rise in overall theft in England and Wales last year.

A week ago two teens on a moped doused five riders with acid while trying to steal bikes in North London.

Last week, a 41-year-old fashion executive told how she broke her leg fighting off eight moped attackers who targeted her as she walked her dog in London.

And last month a group of delivery drivers tracked down a thief and a bloody brawl ensued.