Bystanders Film as Hooded Gang Targets Night Revellers
Shocking footage has emerged showing a hooded gang apparently robbing night-time revellers in the heart of London's financial district while bystanders stood by filming the incident on their mobile phones. The disturbing event unfolded on Gresham Street in the City of London on Sunday, raising fresh concerns about street crime in the capital.
The Incident: Four Masked Figures Surround Mercedes Van
A group of at least four people, all dressed in jeans and long hooded black coats with face masks, were filmed surrounding a black Mercedes van. Video evidence shows the individuals reaching into the back of the parked vehicle and appearing to struggle with someone inside. Throughout the altercation, the driver remained calmly in the front seat, making no attempt to intervene or drive away from the scene.
As the alleged robbery unfolded, others present on the street did not intervene but instead recorded the events on their smartphones. One man was heard commenting, 'You don't want to be that way… someone's getting robbed.' A woman expressed her shock, saying, 'Oh my God... why are they doing that? I literally want to shout at them and tell them to stop doing that.'
Police Investigation and Wider Crime Context
The incident was initially captured on Snapchat before being widely shared across other social media platforms. Despite the viral footage, City of London Police confirmed that no victims have come forward and the alleged robbery was not officially reported to authorities.
A police spokesperson stated: 'We are aware of the video posted on social media of an alleged robbery on Gresham Street. We've received no reports from any victims and no eyewitnesses have contacted police. We will make all efforts to identify any victims and would ask anyone with any information to contact the City of London Police on 101.'
This incident comes amid growing concerns about street crime in London, particularly phone thefts and watch robberies. According to Metropolitan Police figures, 117,211 mobile phones were reported stolen in the capital during 2024 alone - equivalent to approximately 320 devices every day. Thieves typically target people at random, often using bikes or mopeds to snatch devices directly from victims' hands.
The problem extends beyond phone theft to include so-called 'Rolex rippers' who target high-value watches. Official statistics reveal that between January 2022 and July 2025, 5,180 timepieces worth over £3,000 were snatched in London, with only 59 recovered - a recovery rate of just one in 88.
Scotland Yard's recently appointed lead on phone theft, Commander Andy Featherstone, admitted last month that the force's work to tackle such incidents has not been 'good enough'. He acknowledged that phone thefts had been an 'outlier' for the Met but stated that a new strategy focused on targeting organised crime was beginning to show results.
