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Here’s the latest on mobile phone theft in your area. Phone theft is an increasingly common street crime, particularly in busy urban areas. A growing number of incidents involve offenders riding bicycles or e bikes, targeting pedestrians who are distracted or holding their phones in public places. These thefts are often quick, opportunistic, and difficult to prevent once in motion, but awareness and simple precautions can significantly reduce risk.
How These Thefts Typically Happen
Offenders ride past victims at speed, often on pavements or near crossings while they are distracted. Phones are snatched directly from hands. Earphones and charging cables can be used to track where a phone is, making it easier to identify a target. Groups may operate together, with one rider grabbing the phone and others acting as lookouts.
Because bicycles and e bikes can quickly move through traffic or pedestrian areas, offenders often escape quickly.
Distraction thefts can also occur, whereby a suspect will engage a person in conversation or attempt some other form of distraction, while another then takes their phone.
Location
Specifically, within the Newington area, in and around Kennington Tube Station to Pasley Park SE17.
Reasons for this . . .
• large numbers of people exiting at once create crowds and distraction
• Many people immediately check their phones for messages, directions, or apps.
• Pedestrians are often focused on navigating or rushing, making them less aware of surroundings.
• Open forecourts and nearby roads give offenders easy access and escape routes.
• Park users may be distracted, and the open space facilitates target identification.
However, the offenders are mobile and operate in numerous locations.
While anyone can be targeted, the most common risk factors include:
• Walking while looking down at your phone
• Holding your phone loosely or one-handed
• Standing near the curb or edge of the pavement
• Wearing headphones and being less aware of surroundings
• Using your phone in crowded or transitional areas (e.g. station exits, crossings)
Practical Ways to Stay Safe
1. Be Aware of Your Surroundings
- Keep your head up and stay alert, especially near roads or cycle paths.
- Take note of approaching bikes, even on pavements.
2. Avoid Using Your Phone in High-Risk Areas
- Wait until you are in a secure location (e.g. indoors or away from traffic flow) before checking your phone.
- Be particularly cautious when exiting train stations or bus terminals.
3. Hold Your Phone Securely
- Use both hands when using your phone outdoors.
- Keep a firm grip—avoid loosely holding it at arm’s length.
4. Position Yourself Wisely
- Stand away from the edge of the pavement, particularly near busy roads.
- If possible, face oncoming traffic or passing cyclists so you can see potential risks.
5. Minimise Distractions
- Keep volume low if using headphones so you can hear what’s happening around you.
- Avoid walking while fully focused on your screen.
6. Conceal Your Phone When Not in Use
- Keep devices out of sight in a zipped pocket or bag.
- Avoid placing phones in back pockets or easily accessible compartments.
7. Use Security Features
- Enable screen locks and biometric security (fingerprint or face recognition).
- Activate tracking features like “Find My iPhone” or “Find My Device.”
- Consider noting your phone’s IMEI number for reporting.
Additional precautions at train stations. Given the higher number of incidents in these areas, extra vigilance is recommended:
• Pause before exiting the station to check your phone safely inside.
• Move to a wall, pillar, or quieter area rather than using your phone in open walkways.
• Avoid stopping suddenly in high-traffic areas where you may become a target.
• Stay especially alert during peak travel times when crowds are largest.
If your phone is stolen:
• Do not chase the offender, particularly if they are on a bike or in a group.
• Move to a safe place and contact police asap. The sooner the better, but this may be difficult, given the item being targeted.
• If possible, use another device to lock or track your phone remotely.
• Inform your mobile network provider to block the device and register it as stolen.
Key Message
Phone snatching by bike riders is fast and often unpredictable, but action can be taken to try and prevent the crime, through awareness and simple behavioural changes. By staying alert, limiting phone use in vulnerable areas, and securing your device, you can significantly reduce your risk.
Newington SNT are focusing on this issue. While we must also manage abstractions and other tasks, this is a current ward priority.
We have
• Patrolled the relevant areas and will continue to do so, increasing patrols when we can.
• Worked with local partners to consider environmental changes which may make offending harder and the identification of suspects more likely and continue to do so.
• Worked with colleagues to disrupt offenders through indirect means and continue to do so.
• Looked at alternative methods of policing, such as ASB legislation, and intend to actively pursue this.
• Worked with other local officers to arrange a targeted operation (date to be confirmed).
• Worked with Kennington Tube staff and partners to discuss suitable signage/messaging in and around the station to raise awareness and continue to do so.
Crime prevention advice from the Met Police.
www.met.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention
Link to register devices.
www.thenmpr.com
This message is intended to raise awareness of the issue and give residents suitable advice, should they wish to act upon it.
 We’ve put hundreds more officers on the frontlines of community crime-fighting teams, upping visible patrols in the right ‘hot spots’ so we can deter and catch criminals. These officers are working hard to bear down on mobile phone crime in London, arresting phone thieves on the street, shutting down vendors trading stolen devices and dismantling international criminal gangs. We have now almost halved phone theft in Westminster, where it was most concentrated, following an intensive crackdown which has seen hundreds of arrests and thousands of phones recovered. After campaigning by the Met, Apple has also made a global change to its security system that better ensures stolen phones cannot be reused or resold – disrupting a highly organised international business model worth millions. But we know there is more to do. That’s why we’re stepping up our use of technology, increasing our operations and working with phone companies to make it less appealing for criminals to commit these crimes in the first place. You can report an incident of theft online at https://www.met.police.uk. | 
