Arrest after attempted phone snatch as train doors closed at London station
British Transport Police (BTP) said that the incident took place at Brent Cross West station on January 20.
An off-duty Metropolitan Police officer arrested a man at the scene on suspicion of robbery.
The suspect also allegedly kicked a member of railway staff in the stomach after being detained, and was further arrested on suspicion of assault.
It came during a week of action by London police forces to crack down on phone thefts and robberies in the capital.
British Transport Police said that they made 21 arrests during the operation, including 10 related to suspected phone theft or robbery.
One suspect was arrested at his home on January 22 after an attempted phone robbery between Wandsworth Common station and Clapham Junction station in December.
Officers also made 14 arrests around Finsbury Park station.
On January 21, one man was arrested at Seven Sisters station after a flick knife, drugs and cash were found.
In another incident on January 23, officers arrested three youths after receiving reports that a group of teenagers had been robbed of their belongings, including two phones and a jacket.
Chief Inspector Liam Kelly, who oversaw the operation for BTP, said: “The public’s safety is our number one priority, and we are working hard to detect and deter phone theft and robbery on the railway network.
“Our increased operational activity, guided by enhanced intelligence work, has made the railway a hostile environment for offenders which has seen rates of robbery decrease compared to last year.
“The public will continue to see regular patrols of uniformed officers alongside our specially trained plain-clothed officers as we continue to tackle the scourge of phone theft and robbery.”