Phone theft in London: what the Met Police data teaches travelers

London logged about 71,000 phone thefts and robberies in 2025. The Met's figures, the export route to China and how travelers can protect themselves.

2026-11-01

London has become a global reference for a crime that bridges the street and the digital world: phone snatching, often by riders on e-bikes.

How many phones are stolen in London?

According to the Met Police, phone theft and robbery offences fell from 81,365 in 2024 to 71,391 in 2025 (−12.3%). The Mayor of London reported 39,793 offences in January–August 2026, down from 49,136 a year earlier. Annual totals differ slightly between releases.

Where do stolen phones go?

Street thieves typically get £100–£200 per phone, and handsets are often exported, reactivated and resold abroad within days, AFP reported via myRepublica. In September 2026, three men were jailed for a combined 25 years for handling stolen goods, linked to a network that allegedly sent up to 40,000 phones from the UK to China in 2024–25, about 40% of London's stolen phones in that period, per City Hall.

What police are doing

September 2026 crackdown: 700+ arrests, hundreds of phones seized, 50+ warrants, 110+ illegal e-bikes seized.
In March 2026 the Met asked manufacturers and networks to make stolen phones unusable worldwide, threatening to seek legislation if there was no action by June.

The scam after the snatch

The Met warns criminals increasingly use social engineering, sometimes with threats, to get passwords. Police, Apple and legitimate firms will never ask for your password.

How travelers can protect themselves

Don't use your phone facing the curb; step inside to check maps.
Before the trip, enable theft protection and note your IMEI (*#06#).
Lock banking apps separately and lower transfer limits.
If stolen: mark it lost, call your bank, ask your carrier to block the SIM and IMEI, file a police report (101 or online in the UK).