A woman's phone was snatched by an unmasked robber on a bike in Stratford, London, and the Metropolitan Police closed the case within 24 hours, despite the availability of CCTV. The incident, which occurred on July 17, left the victim feeling more on edge and questioning the police's priorities.
Incident and Immediate Aftermath
Holly Kintuka, an audience writer, was waiting at a bus stop when a stranger rode past and snatched her phone. The thief did not cover his face, which Kintuka noted, saying, "Either they were a pro at snatching gadgets, or they knew they were unlikely to get caught." The sound of her AirPods disconnecting alerted her to the theft.
A passerby helped her by giving her his phone to call the police and buying her a bus pass to get home. Kintuka expressed gratitude that only her phone was taken and she was not harmed, but the experience has left her more on edge. She now tenses up when she sees anyone on a bike.
Police Response and Statistics
When Kintuka reported the incident and mentioned the CCTV cameras, she was informed that "the investigation team has therefore made the decision to close the case" within less than 24 hours. After contacting the Met Police's press office, she was told that "several enquiries are ongoing, including an assessment of local CCTV," contradicting the earlier closure notice.
According to a Freedom of Information request, nearly nine in 10 phone theft cases were closed without a suspect being identified, with the Met Police closing 95% of their investigations. Of the 587,498 phones stolen in London between 2017 and February 2024, only 13,998 were recovered, less than 3%. In the year 2024-25, 86,000 phone thefts were reported to the Metropolitan Police.
Met's Priorities and Response
Detective Inspector Vince Fedder told the Express: "We understand the distress that having a phone stolen can cause. As well as losing a device people rely on every day, victims can be left feeling shaken, inconvenienced and worried about their personal information. Tackling phone theft and securing positive outcomes remains one of the Met's top priorities. In the 12 months ending July 2026 positive outcomes (e.g. convictions) for robbery of personal property and theft from a person increased by 41.4%, compared to the 12 months ending July 2025. We remain determined to catch offenders and bring those responsible to justice, making London a safer city for everyone."
The number of phone thieves caught between June 2025 and May 2026 has increased by 18%, according to the force. However, the police confirmed that "at this stage, no arrests have been made" in Kintuka's case. Her phone, according to Find My iPhone, is in China and has been for weeks.
