In a daring and brazen act, phone snatchers have been caught on camera stealing a man’s mobile device in Hampstead, an affluent area of London.
The shocking images show two thieves, faces covered and riding a moped, mounting the pavement before grabbing the phone right out of the unsuspecting man’s hand.
The thieves quickly sped off, but their crime spree didn’t stop there.
Reports indicate they went on to snatch two more phones as they drove toward Camden.
The Growing Epidemic of Phone Theft in London
This incident comes as part of a disturbing trend of mobile phone thefts, especially in London, where such crimes have increased dramatically.
Over the last four years, mobile phone thefts have tripled, with more than 70,000 phones reported stolen on the streets of the city in 2024 alone.
This surge in theft is being driven largely by criminal gangs who use e-bikes and scooters to quickly snatch phones and sell them abroad for parts.
Experts estimate that phone snatching could be costing consumers as much as £70 million each year, a financial burden that seems to grow with each new report of theft.
The Thieves’ Bold Tactics and Swift Getaways
In the most recent case, two thieves—dressed in black and wearing balaclavas—acted with frightening precision.
As they rode down the street on a black moped, they snatched phones right out of pedestrians’ hands.
One victim tried to hold onto his phone as it was snatched, but the speed of the thieves’ getaway quickly left him behind.
Despite his efforts to chase after them, the thieves managed to weave through traffic, disappearing from sight as they continued their crime spree toward Camden.
Metropolitan Police Steps Up Efforts to Combat Phone Theft
The Metropolitan Police are well aware of the phone theft epidemic and have ramped up their efforts to curb these crimes.
Plain-clothed officers have been deployed to patrol high-risk areas, and last month, the police carried out a major operation resulting in the arrest of 230 people and the seizure of 1,000 stolen devices in just one week.
Areas such as Westminster and the West End, known hotspots for phone thefts, have seen an increase in police presence.
Additionally, the UK government is considering new measures through the Crime and Policing Bill that would allow officers to conduct property searches without waiting for a warrant in cases involving phone thefts, provided a senior officer approves the action.
International Impact and Police Cooperation
The stolen phones often end up on the black market overseas, with countries like China and Nigeria being common destinations.
Kaya Comer-Schwartz, London’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, acknowledged a 13% decrease in personal robberies compared to last year.
However, she also pointed out that the criminal demand for high-value mobile phones is still growing globally.
She emphasized the need for mobile phone companies to do more to prevent stolen phones from being sold and reused illegally.
Recent Arrests and Police Success
Recent efforts to tackle phone theft have led to multiple arrests.
In Westminster alone, the increased patrols resulted in 17 arrests for robbery and theft.
The operation also led to a series of stop-and-search activities, which included the arrest of a 15-year-old boy found with £1,000 in cash and a large knife while riding an illegal electric bike.
The success of these operations follows the Met’s recent exit from special measures, which signifies improvements in various areas, including response times to emergencies and neighbourhood policing.
How Victims Can Help
For those who have had their phones stolen, the Met urges them to use the national mobile phone register, which can help recover stolen devices.
By registering their phones with The Police National Mobile Property Register, victims can increase their chances of having their stolen handsets returned to them if they are recovered.
With these increased efforts from the police and the government, the hope is that phone snatching in London will soon become a thing of the past.
However, the ongoing rise in this type of crime highlights the need for continued vigilance and cooperation between authorities, businesses, and the public.