It’s a moment that’s become all too familiar on London’s streets—and this time, it was caught on CCTV.
Australian model and influencer Emma Van Der Hoek became the latest victim in a string of phone thefts plaguing the capital.
Even more upsetting? This was the second time in just three months she’s been targeted—right in what she believed was a “safe” neighbourhood.
Broad Daylight Attack Leaves Model Chasing Thief
The incident unfolded in the middle of the day as Emma was walking alone down a quiet street in London.
CCTV footage shows her scrolling on her phone when a man dressed in black and wearing a face mask suddenly swoops in from behind.
Without hesitation, he snatches the phone straight from her hand and bolts around the corner.
Emma gives chase but isn’t able to catch up. Another man, also in dark clothing, appears in the video, possibly acting as backup.
The two vanish from sight, leaving Emma shaken and—once again—without her phone.
Instagram Plea and Frustration Over Victim Blaming
After the incident, Emma shared the footage on Instagram, visibly frustrated not only by the theft, but by the response online.
“My phone got stolen yesterday in London!!! This is the second time in three months that this has happened,” she wrote.
“All within my so-called ‘safe’ neighbourhood.”
Worse still, the viral TikTok clip of the theft has attracted nearly half a million views—but not all the comments have been supportive.
“The amount of victim-blaming is actually insane,” she added.
“People have gotten so used to theft in London that they’re blaming the victims instead of the criminals.”
In a direct message to the thief, she said, “If you are one of the boys that stole my phone, return it and I’ll delete the video.
If anyone knows anything, please message me!”
The Bigger Picture: Phone Theft in London Hits Alarming High
Emma’s story is just one among tens of thousands.
Phone theft in London has spiralled into a full-blown crisis, with the numbers reaching record highs.
Last month alone, it was reported that 37 mobile phones are stolen every single day in the West End.
Over the last four years, nearly 231,000 phones have been stolen or snatched, marking a threefold increase.
The West End—the heart of London’s entertainment scene and a hub for tourists—is ground zero, with about 40,000 phones reported stolen there alone.
Organised Gangs Are Behind the Surge
Police say most of these thefts are the work of well-coordinated gangs, often operating on electric bikes.
They either grab phones directly from people’s hands or pickpocket unsuspecting pedestrians in crowded places.
What’s fuelling it all? A booming international black market, where stolen devices are either sold whole or stripped for parts.
Authorities estimate the industry is worth over £50 million a year.
London’s Theft Hotspots Revealed
According to data from the Metropolitan Police and The Times, theft is especially rampant in areas like St James’s, Piccadilly, Haymarket, and Clarence House—some of London’s most exclusive and tourist-heavy zones.
Combined, the West End and St James’s now account for a third of all phone thefts in the capital.
Other hotspots include:
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Bloomsbury
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Holborn
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Covent Garden
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Shoreditch
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Camden Town
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London Bridge
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Waterloo and South Bank
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Stratford
And it’s not just the city centre. Since 2022, more than 200 suburbs across London have seen an uptick in phone snatching, with over a third of the city now considered affected.
Police Issue Safety Warnings for Londoners
In response to the crisis, police are urging residents and tourists alike to stay alert.
Their advice? Stick to well-lit, busy areas, avoid using your phone out in the open, and keep your devices secured and out of sight—especially in tourist-heavy locations.
Despite the growing number of arrests and investigations, many thefts still go unreported, meaning the actual scale of the problem could be even worse than official figures suggest.
What’s Next?
As stories like Emma Van Der Hoek’s continue to highlight how common these crimes have become, pressure is mounting on London authorities to take bolder action.
For now, Londoners are being asked to remain vigilant—but many, like Emma, are left wondering why the city’s streets feel less safe with each passing day.