#phone-theft

#phone-theft

Detective Chief Superintendent Mandy Horsburgh, Head of Crime and Specialist Operations at the City of London Police, said: The City of London Police are at the forefront of the fight back against all those involved in phone theft criminality, whether this is snatching phones from people's hands, using distraction techniques, handing the stolen goods or trying to export devices out of the country. The net is closing in on those who profit from people's misery when they have their phones stolen.

The number of phones being stolen has skyrocketed in the past five years, rising from 20,000 in 2020 to 70,137 devices reported stolen in 2024.

With my phone unlocked, they targeted anything they could gain immediate access to including my bank and crypto accounts. They were even able to take a loan out in a matter of seconds.

Kush Chaudary, a phone theft victim, lost over £35,000 after thieves stole his phone and quickly changed his passcode, highlighting the urgency of device security.

It's very scary to have something taken from you. It's really made me more aware of my surroundings and just be safe because you never know, it's scary.