In the middle of a city struggling with rising street crime, one would-be thief learned a hard lesson about messing with the wrong person.
A Chinese student walking through central London turned the tables after a man tried to swipe his phone—and the whole scene played out like a real-life action movie.
Caught on Camera: The Failed Theft Attempt
A short video uploaded to Red Note shows how it all started.
The alleged thief walked up to the student and struck up a seemingly casual conversation.
But within seconds, the man snatched the student’s phone and bolted toward Tottenham Court Road Tube station.
That might have worked—if the student hadn’t immediately chased after him.
The Student Fights Back Underground
What the suspect didn’t count on was the student’s determination.
Wearing a camel-colored puffer jacket, the alleged thief sprinted down the escalator and onto the train platform.
But the student was right behind him.
Once on the platform, things escalated. The student caught up with the man and, without hesitation, wrestled him into a corner.
With a firm grip, he held the suspect down and managed to recover his phone.
He then stayed with the man, keeping him restrained until help arrived.
Police Step In and Make an Arrest
Moments later, Transport for London (TfL) staff and police officers arrived at the scene and took the suspect into custody.
According to a statement from the Metropolitan Police, a 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft.
He’s since been released on bail while further investigations continue.
The student had originally reported the theft happening around 5 PM on May 5, somewhere between His Majesty’s Theatre and Piccadilly Circus.
It’s believed the phone was thrown to the ground before the student recovered it inside the Tube station.
Phone Theft Is Becoming a Citywide Epidemic
This incident might have ended well for the victim, but it’s part of a much bigger problem that’s plaguing London.
Phone snatching has become so rampant that some are calling it a full-blown crisis.
In Westminster alone, there were more than 22,000 reported phone thefts in just one year leading up to September 2024.
That breaks down to about 85 thefts per 1,000 people.
Paul, a local who works near the London Eye, sees the problem daily.
“It’s constant. Especially in the tourist areas,” he said.
“One time, a family gave their phone to someone to take a photo and he just ran off with it.”
No One Is Safe—Not Even Young Children
Sadly, not even kids are off limits. Ovye, who works for a sightseeing bus company, recalled a shocking moment: “A guy snatched a phone right out of a little girl’s hand while she was taking a photo.
She couldn’t have been older than four. It was unbelievable.”
Both Paul and Ovye say the same groups of thieves linger in the same spots, operating in broad daylight.
And despite the police knowing who many of them are, the crimes persist.
What Police Are Doing to Stop the Surge
Commander Owain Richards of the Met Police said they’re not taking this lightly.
He acknowledged how invasive and traumatic phone theft can be, especially when it turns aggressive.
In response, the force has ramped up efforts across key hotspot areas like Westminster, Lambeth, and Newham.
They’re deploying both plainclothes and uniformed officers, using data and technology to track stolen devices, and working with mobile companies to make phones harder to resell.
Their aim? To break the criminal networks profiting from the stolen phone trade.
How You Can Help Stop It
Police are urging everyone who’s been targeted to report incidents as soon as possible.
Quick reports allow them to act fast and hopefully catch suspects before they disappear.
It’s also a reminder for Londoners and tourists alike to stay alert—especially in crowded or popular areas.