Sometimes you’re just out on your lunch break, thinking about what sandwich to get — and the next thing you know, you’re shoulder-barging a phone thief off a bike in the middle of London.
That’s exactly what happened to Alex, a New Zealand-born Londoner, who turned into an unexpected local hero during a chaotic street scuffle.
A Suspicious Cyclist and a Gut Feeling
Alex had barely settled into his lunchtime stroll when he spotted something odd.
A cyclist moving unusually slow near Ludgate Hill instantly set off alarm bells.
“The way he moved, the way he turned around — it just didn’t look right,” Alex recalled.
That gut feeling turned out to be spot-on.
Within seconds, the cyclist — later identified as 28-year-old Spencer Duarte — swerved toward a pedestrian and tried to snatch their phone.
That’s when Alex had to make a split-second decision: keep walking or intervene.
The Split-Second Decision to Act
Without hesitation, Alex leapt into action. “It all happened so fast,” he said.
He shoulder-charged Duarte off his e-bike, landing them both in the street.
Though Alex took a hit to the face when he hit the ground, he quickly got back up, grabbed Duarte’s bag straps and kept chasing.
In dramatic CCTV footage, Alex is seen tackling the thief — not once, but twice.
After his bag ripped, Duarte ditched his bike and ran. But Londoners weren’t letting him off easy.
A Community Response in Action
More pedestrians joined in, trying to stop Duarte as he darted through the crowd.
Though he managed to escape in the moment, his luck didn’t last long.
Duarte lost a shoe during the struggle, and that one slip led to his arrest.
City of London Police used DNA from the shoe to identify him.
“The slipper fitted our Cinderella,” said Andrew Walker, forensics manager.
Duarte has now admitted to one count of theft and is due to be sentenced in September.
The Aftermath and a Quick Return to Normal
Despite the adrenaline and bruises, Alex didn’t hang around for a medal.
He gave a statement to police, popped back to his lunch café, and finished his workday like nothing happened.
“My jaw was sore, but it was an easy win,” he said.
He hoped the confrontation would have shocked Duarte into turning his life around — but the hero’s real concern was the bigger picture.
‘We All Have a Role to Play’
Speaking to reporters, Alex emphasized that public involvement matters.
“Crime happens around us all the time.
If you see something and you can help, you should,” he said.
He also made clear that people should assess risks first and know their limits — helping doesn’t always mean jumping into a brawl.
Even filming the incident or reporting it helps.
London’s Alarming Rise in Phone Thefts
This dramatic tale comes as London faces a phone theft crisis.
The capital saw nearly 231,000 recorded phone thefts in four years, with hotspots like the West End and St James’s being heavily targeted by organized gangs.
In 2023 alone, over 81,000 mobile phone crimes were logged — the highest ever.
Police say most of the stolen phones are shipped overseas, often to Algeria or China.
The black market value of these phones is around £20 million, but the replacement cost to the public and insurers hits closer to £50 million.
Authorities Urge Vigilance and Community Action
Police acknowledge the growing issue, admitting it’s tough to keep up.
“Don’t think you can steal from Londoners without consequences,” warned PC Jake Dean.
Officers are stepping up patrols, using extensive CCTV, and urging the public to stay alert.
Alex’s story shows what can happen when one person decides not to look the other way. While not everyone should jump into a chase, his message is clear — small actions can help protect the community.