230 people lose their phones daily in Britain due to theft - Sarmad
Theft of mobile phones has become a troubling phenomenon in Britain, with most users now afraid to carry their phones in their hands while walking on the street, hold them to their ears, or keep them in visible places in their bags or pockets, as they simply risk becoming targets for specialized phone thieves.
Phone snatching is widespread in public places across Britain, where thieves typically snatch phones openly from users who are talking on the phone, holding them with both hands to read text messages, or taking photos at tourist sites. The thief is usually on a bicycle, quickly snatching the phone from the victim’s hand and fleeing the scene.
According to information published by the British Daily Star, latest official data revealed that approximately 230 people per day had their mobile phones stolen in England and Wales during 2025, with London far outpacing other areas in recording these crimes.
Data obtained by the newspaper from the police in England and Wales showed that at least 83,000 crimes involving the theft or robbery of mobile phones from their owners were recorded last year.
This figure represents a 12% decrease compared to the approximately 94,000 cases recorded in 2024, but remains higher than the total for 2023, which saw around 80,000 thefts.
However, the newspaper emphasizes that the actual number is likely higher than what was recorded, as nine out of 44 police forces did not disclose their figures related to mobile phone theft complaints.
London topped the list of locations where people are most likely to have their mobile phones stolen, recording more than 72,000 thefts and robberies of phones during 2025, accounting for approximately 87% of all cases recorded in England and Wales.
The rate of phone theft in London reached about 795 cases per 100,000 people, compared to around 21 cases per 100,000 people outside the capital.
Data indicated that London’s high tourist density may contribute to the elevated rate, given the large number of visitors whose phones are stolen while in the capital.
Westminster was the most affected area within London, recording approximately 20,700 phone thefts and robberies last year. Nevertheless, the capital saw a decline in these crimes, with the number of cases dropping from around 81,000 in 2024 to 72,000 in 2025, a decrease of nearly 13%.
However, perpetrator prosecution rates remain extremely low, with data showing that only about 1% of reported cases end with formal police charges.
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London stated that the reduction of approximately 13,000 phone theft cases in one year resulted from intensive efforts between the police and relevant authorities, noting that crime numbers in the “West End” area had decreased by roughly half.
He added that the Metropolitan Police strengthened their presence in high-crime areas, alongside the use of drones and electric bikes in efforts to combat phone theft.
As part of these crime-fighting measures, the Metropolitan Police recently launched a program in collaboration with Apple aimed at making stolen phones unusable, in an attempt to curb their resale or reuse, according to the Daily Star.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley warned technology companies, urging them to take urgent steps to prevent the resale or use of stolen phones, otherwise the police would call on the government to intervene through new legislation.
