Ten children were robbed of their mobile phones last Thursday after a trip to see The Lord of the Rings at a cinema in Surrey Quays, south-east London.
The boys and girls aged 10 to 13 were set upon by a group of up to 40 older youths, who threatened the youngsters and then searched them before making off with four mobile phones and their pocket money.
Home Office minister John Denham today visited sixth formers at St Olave's school in Southwark, south-east London, to discuss their experiences of phone-related crime.
"Mobile phones can be an important tool in keeping children safe, but they can also expose young people to the risk of robbery," said the minister.
"It is very important that young people use their phones responsibly and avoid making themselves targets for phone thieves.
"All the pointers suggest that mobile phone thefts are driving the robbery figures upwards and making the increase in robbery greater than it would otherwise be."