A new video shows a phone snatcher on an e-bike targeting a runner near the River Thames, highlighting the ongoing epidemic of thefts in London. The thief, dressed in all black, swerves onto the pavement and snatches the phone mid-stride, leaving the victim distraught.
London has seen a surge in phone snatching, with 78,000 thefts reported in the year to March 2024, a 150% increase from the previous year. Despite a Met Police crackdown, many victims feel vulnerable. Adele Pearson, a TV producer, had her phone stolen twice, once on London Bridge by an e-bike rider and again in a pub.
Rutesh Durve had his phone snatched at Piccadilly Circus tube station. He chased the thief but lost him in the crowd. A week later, his phone was traced to China. His wife received fake Apple messages attempting to steal his password.
The Met's Flying Squad recently arrested 10 people linked to phone snatching gangs. Detective Chief Inspector Laura Hillier noted that phone robbery is a global, multi-million-pound industry. However, only 0.8% of theft complaints result in charges, and four in five investigations are closed without a suspect.
The Home Office has pledged to work with tech firms and police to tackle the issue. In the City of London alone, 213 phones were stolen between January and April this year, down from 294 in the same period last year.
