Mobile phone thefts in the West End have soared to a record high with 37 reported on average each day, statistics reveal.
Nearly 231,000 phone thefts and robberies were reported in the last four years in London, according to the Metropolitan Police, increasing three-fold.
The highest number of incidents took place in the West End, filled with tourists, with almost 40,000 phones snatched over the period, The Times reports.
A second hotspot is the vicinity around Pall Mall, Clarence House and St James Palace, at the border of Piccadilly and Haymarket. Collectively, the West End and St James now make up a third of all London thefts compared to a quarter in 2021.
Scotland Yard data shows 81,256 mobile phone thefts were reported in London last year following a 20 per cent surge over the previous 12 months, with suspicions the true figure could be significantly higher due to the number of unreported offences.
Other hotspots were Bloomsbury, Holborn, Covent Garden, Shoreditch, Borough, London Bridge, Waterloo, South Bank, Camden Town, Regent’s Park and Stratford.
Most thefts sees gang members using electric bikes to ride past pedestrians and snatch phones from their hands or pickpocket victims. Police state this is an organised crime gangs are selling stolen phones on the overseas black market or stripping them for part, a criminal enterprise worth £50 million a year.
Besides tourist hotspots in West London, over a third of mobile phone thefts have been reported among 217 London suburbs, showing residents are also at risk from robbers.
The public are advised to stick to well-lit streets and paths with other people around, and to avoid hold out their phones in the street where cyclists have an opportunity to snatch them.
A National Police Chiefs’ Council spokeswoman described the incidents as "personal robbery" which "can have a devastating impact on victims”.
She added: “In some cases, there may not be enough information for police to act upon or bring about criminal proceedings.
“For these types of offences, police focus on targeting prolific offenders, organised crime networks and ensuring effective prevention measures are in place. We understand the disappointment felt by victims who do not get a quality service by the police or the outcomes they would want through the criminal justice system.”
Mobile phone firms such as Apple and Google have operated initiative to protect consumers after theft, using technology to remote wipe and lock phones and also find devices.
Apple said: “We have been working on this issue from a hardware, software and customer support standpoint for more than the last decade.”
Google states it has "invested in advanced theft protection features … to help prevent theft and block stolen devices”, while Samsung added: “We’re in constant collaboration … to look at new and existing solutions to help combat this complex issue and ultimately help improve the safety of mobile phone users.”
