POLICE in York are winning the battle to reduce street robbery.

Latest figures have revealed that the city is bucking a national trend - with the number of robberies dropping by almost a third.

In the last nine months, there have been 103 robberies in York, down 28.5 per cent from 144 in the same period last year. Robberies in Selby, meanwhile, have dropped by 65 per cent from 23 to just eight.

But Home Office national figures, due to be released this week, are expected to reveal a huge surge in robberies - up 12 per cent across England and Wales.

Attacks on teenagers carrying expensive iPods and mobile phones have been named as the main reason for the numbers soaring, by up to 50 per cent in some parts of the country.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Raw, of York Police, said: "We were aware of the iPod issue as it is a national trend, but fortunately it does not appear to have surfaced here, unlike the theft of satellite navigation systems, which has fuelled a big rise in vehicle crime.

"The detection rate for robberies is 30.1 per cent in York and 37.5 per cent in Selby.

"This does represent a success story for York and Selby. However, we cannot be complacent, and we recognise the destructive nature of this type of offence.

"We will continue to maintain high visibility patrols to deter this type of offence."

Robberies in York and Selby fell by 16 per cent to 175 between April 2004 and April 2005, compared with 215 in the same period the previous year.

But the annual figure is still expected to be higher this year than in 2003 - when it was just 130.

In July, the Evening Press revealed that two mobile phones were being stolen in the city every day.

Mobile phones now feature in 28 per cent of all robberies, compared to just eight per cent three years ago.

Phone thefts are increasing at a greater rate than other robberies, and the suspects and victims tend to be younger.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "The theft of mobile phones is becoming more and more common, but phone owners can help minimise the risk. You should keep your phone out of sight, whether in the car or in the street, and have it marked with your postcode - either etched or with an ultraviolet pen."

Updated: 10:45 Wednesday, January 25, 2006