Steaming (crime)

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Steaming is a slang term used in the UK commonly for robbery performed on train or bus passengers by a gang or large group and often involving some level of violence.^[1]^[2] It is often used interchangeably with mugging, referring to a specific subcategory of that crime. Many cases have been reported on the London Underground^[3] and other city public transport systems although not exclusively localised to them. It may also be applied to other theft such as shoplifting, involving a large group employing distraction tactics, intimidation or actual violence against staff.^[4] In general, the term refers to the operation in a large group and the use of intimidation and violence to commit theft.

In some rare instances, 'steaming' has involved more serious crimes such as rape, serious assault and murder^[5] (either from the robbery, or as a targeted gang killing) as opposed to robbery. Several cases, such as the murder of Tom ap Rhys Pryce, have courted controversy due to the perception of a racial bias in the depth of coverage given to the case, and those similar, in the British media - the head of the Metropolitan Police force, Sir Ian Blair, branding the media 'institutionally racist'.^[6] The topic has also attracted comment from the British National Party due to the ethnicity of the victim and offenders.