A surge in mobile phone snatching is plaguing central London, with criminals predominantly using electric scooters or bicycles to snatch devices from unsuspecting victims.
Official reports indicate last year saw record numbers, with a staggering 81,000 cases recorded – representing a 20% increase from the previous year. Over the past four years, more than 230,000 phones have been reported stolen. Alarmingly, phone snatching now accounts for two-thirds of all street crimes in the capital.
Authorities believe the actual figures are significantly higher due to widespread underreporting. Police suspect organized crime networks are orchestrating much of this theft, either smuggling stolen devices overseas or dismantling them for parts, fueling a black market estimated to be worth £50 million (RM287.43 million).
Most thefts are carried out by criminals on electric motorcycles or pickpockets, targeting victims in busy areas such as Bloomsbury, Waterloo, and Regent’s Park.
According to the latest data from the Metropolitan Police (Met), an average of 37 people lose their phones daily in the West End, the central tourist and entertainment hub of London.
Proactive Measures by the City of London Police
Proactive efforts by the City of London Police to prevent phone theft this year have led to a nearly 30% drop in such crimes.
Figures released today show that reports of phone snatching in the Square Mile have decreased in the first four months of 2025 compared to the previous year.
These statistics were released as the police force announced Operation Swipe, a new initiative introduced in the City of London, involving more intensive law enforcement days.
Since the beginning of the year, 213 phones have been reported snatched or stolen in London. During the same period last year (January 1 to April 30), there were 294 reported cases.
Police officers will be deployed to phone theft hotspots to deter, track, arrest, and prevent robberies.
Police presence will be increased across the Square Mile, supported by specialized resources in the control room monitoring the area through the City’s extensive CCTV network.
The Police Cycle Team will seize illegal e-bicycles and e-scooters and will be joined by Metropolitan Police officers riding Surron bikes to demonstrate tactical capabilities. The City of London Police have confiscated over 500 illegal e-bicycles and e-scooters since July 2023.
