THERE were more than 1,100 thefts on Northern services between the beginning of 2015 and the end of 2018, with the operator recording the ninth-highest total in the UK.

Data obtained from British Transport Police under the Freedom of Information (FoI) act, showed that 1,133 thefts were recorded across the network across the four-year period.

Thefts on UK railways rose by 11.3 per cent, although Northern's total fell from 321 thefts in 2017 to 289 in 2018. Previously, the total had risen from 237 in 2015 to 286 in 2016.

Northern's total across the four years was slightly higher than the UK average of 1,041, although the London Underground recorded 13,832 of the 37,471 total.

The research was conducted by gadget insurance provider ProtectYourBubble.com

James Brown, director of gadget insurance at the company, said: “These figures show that it is more important than ever to safeguard yourself and your valuables while travelling on the rail network.

“The problem of thefts is particularly stark in the capital. The increasing value of smartphones and other transportable tech, as well as an ever-growing number of tourists visiting the capital, means London’s busy rail and tube networks offer rich pickings for opportunistic criminals.

“But it’s not just Londoners who need to be vigilant during their travels, we all need to keep an eye on our possessions, especially at peak times when many opportunistic thieves tend to strike.”