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London’s phone crime epidemic has reached an all time high – with more than 81,000 thefts reported last year.

Data shared by the Met Police revealed that 37 people have their phones snatched in the West End alone each day.

Victims are habitually targeted at key visitor hotspots, with just under half of the devices (40,000) taken in 2024 stolen in the capital’s cultural hub, an area which also accounts for a third of all thefts in London.

The Scotland Yard figures showed a 20 per cent increase in year on year phone theft reports.

More than 230,000 phones have been reported stolen in the capital over the last four years.

But the true picture remains unknown, as many unreported crimes mean the total figure is likely to be far higher.

Stolen devices often fall in the hands of criminal gangs that sell them overseas or dismantle them for parts in a £50million black market.

Many thefts are carried out by thieves on electric bikes or pickpockets.

As well as near popular night life spots in the West End, other theft hotspots include Bloomsbury, Waterloo and Regent’s Park.

People are advised to stay on well lit streets which are more likely to have CCTV coverage and keep all valuable items out of sight.

The Met’s new Flying Squad unit arrested ten people involved in phone snatching gangs this week.

Addressing concerns that police aren’t probing cases enough, the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) said that officers often lack sufficient information and evidence to start criminal proceedings.

Forces instead focus on pursuing gangs, frequent offenders and preventivemeasures, a spokesman told the Times.

Tech firms are also investigating ways to make their devices watertight against criminals, including tools to allow owners to remotely lock and wipe their phones.

A spokesperson for the Met said that while phone thefts had ‘boomed globally’, reported cases were 15 per cent down in London in the first two months of this year compared to the same period in 2024.

They said: ‘We understand phone theft is still a serious problem and has boomed globally. London is not immune, and we are determined to target criminal gangs – many of whom steal phones and sell them overseas.

‘We are continuing to step up our work to prevent and tackle this issue, with increased patrols and plain clothed officers in hotspot areas to deter and catch criminals. We’re also improving the way we as track phone data to identify offenders.

‘Since January 2025, we’ve made 526 arrests of offenders suspected of mobile phone and theft robbery.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

President Donald Trump’s family business has unveiled a gold ‘T1 Phone’ and ‘The 47 Plan’ mobile service.

President Donald Trump’s family business has unveiled a gold ‘T1 Phone’ and ‘The 47 Plan’ mobile service.

‘It should be banned.’

An expert has revealed an important hack that could save you hundreds of pounds on your next hotel booking.

With third-party websites such as Expedia and Booking.com, an increasingly popular choice for finding a deal, most of us are quick to begin our search on our laptops.

But according to a travel expert, you’d be better off starting on your phone to get the best price.

In a clip shared on Tiktok, the expert from Which? explained how reaching for her mobile saved her £270 on an apartment in Amsterdam via Booking.com.

In another example, she said that using a mobile app instead of her laptop helped her slash almost £100 off a weekend getaway in Florence.

She said: ‘I would never book a hotel on a computer without checking the price on a mobile phone first.

‘We slashed £270 off the price of an apartment in Amsterdam on booking.com and we saved almost £100 on Expedia just by booking a mobile exclusive.’

Businesses often offer so-called ‘mobile exclusive’ deals in order to drive up traffic on apps and social media.

Mobile-only pricing is also used as a marketing tool to generate faster sales.

The Which? expert also revealed that she would never book a flight with a travel agent without first checking the price directly with the airline.

She explained this is because, while travel websites can appear to work out cheaper at first glance, added costs for extras such as baggage and seat selection can fast whack up the total cost.

Booking directly with the airline can often mean getting these extras at a better price.

Speaking of airline extras, she explained that, where possible, she avoids paying extra to reserve a seat.

This is because many carriers, including British Airways and Jet2, always try to seat groups together ‘wherever possible’, meaning if you check in in good time, you have a reasonable chance of staying together.

However, on two airlines, Wizz Air and Irish giant Ryanair, you are far more likely to be split up if you don’t specifically select and pay for seats next to each other.

And in another useful tip, she advised against buying insurance cover with hire car companies.

Booking insurance with a third party is not only cheaper and also usually gets you a more comprehensive cover.

‘Book through a third-party company before you go, and don’t cave to the pressure at the car hire desk.’

And in one last important tip, the expert said she would never exchange money at an airport change bureau.

This is because exchange rates at travel hubs are ‘notoriously terrible’.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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