This is the moment an alleged pickpocket is tackled by commuters in London’s financial district before security urges them to “relax”.
The video, shared on social media, shows a man in black jacket and tracksuit bottoms being apprehended at Canary Wharf’s Docklands Light Railway station after allegedly stealing someone’s phone.
Diego Galdino — known online as Pickpocket London, who has 232,000 followers on Instagram — said a young girl started chasing the alleged thief, shouting: “Give back my phone, I know you have it.”
The alleged thief, who has not been identified, was then confronted by a fellow passenger wearing a beige jacket and white trainers who chases him down the platform escalators.
The male passenger then said “f*** you” to the alleged thief as the pair tussled on the station’s concourse while people looked on in shock.
Another commuter dressed in a navy suit and white shirt ran down the stairs to help the fellow traveller by grabbing the alleged thief by pressing him against an advertising board.
As a passenger screams for “security”, a station guard can be seen walking over to the scene of commotion.
The TfL enforcement officer then told one of the passengers to “relax”, to which he replied: “Relax? Grab hold of him!”
It comes as the rates of theft in the capital continues to surge, with some boroughs experiencing a seven-fold increase.
In 2023/24, the Metropolitan Police received nearly 80,000 reports of pickpockets, with 28,155 being reported in Westminster, marking a 712 per cent increase in the area from three years ago.
They act freely, they aren't afraid, for them the city is paradise
Mr Galdino, a food delivery driver, said London has become a “paradise” for pickpockets, telling LBC radio: “They act freely, they aren’t afraid.”
Despite his efforts, Mr Galdino said he is often left frustrated by how officers deal with criminals across the city.
He said: “I think they could do something more, I don't like to criticise the police, but unfortunately, the pickpockets are actually free and don't have much problem with the police.”
A spokesman for Canary Wharf said: “While we always aim to support where possible, any incidents within TfL-managed areas are handled directly by their teams, and our officers are not authorised to intervene.”
The Standard has contacted Transport for London and British Transport Police for comment.
