Met Police Launches Major Crackdown on Gangs Using Children to Steal Phones via Snapchat
The Metropolitan Police has initiated its largest ever operation against mobile phone theft, deploying advanced technology including drones, Sur-Ron e-bikes, and live facial recognition systems. This crackdown targets organised criminal networks in London that are recruiting children as young as 14 through the social media platform Snapchat to steal high-value smartphones for cash rewards.
Snapchat Recruitment and Cash Incentives for Stolen Phones
Criminal gangs in the capital are exploiting teenagers by advertising cash payments for stolen mobile phones on Snapchat. Police have observed flyers offering £380 for the latest iPhone 16 Max model, £220 for an iPhone 15, and £20 for an iPhone 12. Additional bonuses of £100 are provided to thieves who manage to steal ten or more phones in a single operation.
The most lucrative rewards are reserved for the newest Apple iPhones, as the Met believes these devices are less protected and easier to ship overseas for reactivation in markets such as the Gulf and China. In contrast, Samsung phones receive lower offers due to their increased difficulty in being repurposed for international use.
Once a phone is stolen, child thieves are instructed to message a designated "handler" on Snapchat to arrange the exchange, facilitating a seamless criminal process that preys on vulnerable youth.
Advanced Police Tactics and Technology Deployment
In response to this escalating issue, the Met Police is utilising a multi-faceted approach. Drones are being deployed to capture aerial evidence, while Sur-Ron e-bikes enable officers to swiftly pursue fleeing suspects. Live facial recognition technology is also being employed to identify and apprehend thieves in real-time.
The force is expanding its fleet with 20 additional Sur-Ron e-bikes arriving in the coming months, all operated by highly trained riders. These efforts are part of a targeted strategy to reduce mobile phone theft offences in London by 10,000 annually.
Significant Reduction in Phone Theft Offences
Recent police activity has yielded substantial results. Over the past four weeks alone, officers have made 248 arrests related to phone theft and seized approximately 770 stolen devices. An additional 122 individuals were arrested for other offences as part of the wider operation.
Consequently, mobile phone theft offences in London have decreased from 81,365 in 2024 to 71,391 last year, representing a notable decline of about 12.3 per cent. In hotspot areas like the West End, theft rates have plummeted by 30 per cent since April of the previous year.
Leadership Calls for Collaborative Action
Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley emphasised the force's relentless pursuit of phone thieves and the dismantling of organised criminal networks at all levels. He stated, "We are cracking down on phone thieves from the pickpockets on our streets to the international networks exporting stolen phones overseas."
Rowley also urged manufacturers and tech companies to enhance measures preventing stolen phones from being reset, reused, or resold, noting that "policing alone cannot solve this problem." He further called on the courts to prevent repeat offenders from being bailed only to reoffend, thereby undermining police efforts to ensure community safety.
Commander Andrew Featherstone, the Met's lead for tackling phone theft, affirmed that the new tactics are delivering tangible results, highlighting the significant reductions in theft rates across key areas.
Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan credited record funding from City Hall for enabling the Met to invest in state-of-the-art technology to combat mobile phone crime. He pledged to continue prioritising neighbourhood policing and pushing the mobile phone industry to take stronger actions against the repurposing of stolen devices, aiming to build a safer London for all residents.
Snapchat has been contacted for comment regarding its platform's use in these criminal activities.
