Phone snatching in London

[Letitrock]

Going to London next weekend and all I’m being warned about is phone snatching being rife.

We go a couple of times a year and I’ve never been particularly worried about this but a few colleagues have said it’s quite a problem now.

Is it worse than before? I often need to get my phone out as I approach a tube station to check the route and tap through the turnstile. Also I like snapping pics etc.

Is there something I can buy to kind of attach it to my body? 😂
Insights from Londoners please!

I just keep mine in my coat pocket and then my hands in my pockets, particularly now it’s winter. No one is gonna snatch while you’re tapping in at a turnstile.

Or get one of those phone cases that goes round your neck, those seem more and more common now.

It's never happened to me or anyone I know. Just be careful as you would anywhere surely.

I've only seen it happen once in 20 years.
Sensible to keep your phone out of sight coming out of the tube and in v busy places.
Lots of people use the lanyard neck things - I just stick mine in pocket or cross body bag

I've been to London a few times and only on this last time did I get a lanyard for my phone. Probably a bit of media influence, as I'm not entirely sure it's actually "worse" than other major cities that crime happens in.

I use my phone for navigating (not in front of my face all day just in and out of pocket) while away, and a lanyard was about £8. So it was worth it imo. Better to have it than not.

Get a lanyard. I've been walking next to a colleague when her phone was snatched out of her hand. Mine was taken from my pocket when I moved my hand away from it for a couple of seconds. It is rife at the moment.

Just use a debit card and keep your phone in your bag if you are worried

I think it is worse but don’t forget we all live here and touch wood it doesn’t happen to most people. Just be careful. Keep your wits about you. DS15 and all his mates were in central London all day and fine. You’ll be fine

We went last week. I was probably just a bit more conscious and aware of my surroundings when I had my phone out, but I still took photos etc.

Yes my old colleague works on this it's getting worse, buy a phone lanyard.

I see it and the horrors that do it outside my work.
Just don't get it out near the kerb side or outside the tube station. Use a bank card at the barrier if you can.
I don't get mine out at all

I’ve seen quite a few phones snatched so am very careful with mine on the street. Apparently some have been taken from people on the tube though I’ve never seen it.

Other than videos online I’ve never seen it happen, just be extra cautious. I’ve been 2 london twice in the last 4 weeks, both times I needed to use my map, I first made sure there were no suspicious people, on bikes etc. just kept it in my pocket and took it out when I knew we needed to change direction. I have zips on my pockets so it’s extra secure.

I work in central London and there’s at least one phone snatch incident each day outside of my office. It’s rife. I don’t walk around with my phone out but appreciate you may need to if you are looking at it for directions. Just be aware, and get a lanyard.

You should be fine on the tube btw, they tend to be on mopeds and are opportunistic, although they will mount the pavement.

I've seen it happen 2-3 times daily! Use a paper tube map and don't get your phone out, keep your bag close and in front of you. It's much much worse than before.

What's needed is exploding phones, like the pagers in Lebanon.

In contrast I work in central London and have never seen it happen, or know anyone it's happened to. I use my phone all the time when walking around.

It's really common in some parts of London, particularly around stations. I've never known them to use mopeds, they use e bikes and scooters. Quiet and less obvious on paths. Where one of my DCs lives, they're blatant - balaclavas pulled over their faces as they cruise around.

It does happen a lot - not to anyone I know but statistically it's common in my area. I have a lanyard although it gets too tangled/restrictive to use it all the time, and I often forget to use it. Never had my phone snatched though and I do a lot of things that are ill-advised, I snap photos all the time, check map directions, check emails and websites when I'm bored and waiting on a pavement, and often keep it in my back pocket as it's more convenient than unzipping a bag. Maybe I look too scruffy to bother with and like I'd have a cheap old phone (it's a few years old)?

I’ve seen it happen. Guy came out of nowhere on an e-bike & snatched out of someone’s hand as they were stood at the edge of the pavement.
if you need to use your phone on the street, just don’t put yourself in an open position e.g face into the person you’re with .

Lanyards are designed to break under pressure so not sure I’m convinced these provide additional security.

Phone snatching happens all over the UK, it’s not London-specific.

Honestly, I've never seen it happen, had it happen to me or anyone I know. The way people talk about London, none of us would ever leave our houses. Just be aware of your surroundings.

I live in London and have my phone out all the time and so do my teens and it’s never happened to any of us but maybe depends what part you live in as never seen it happen to anyone either

Why is this a thing though? With an iPhone at least unless you can log out of iCloud the phone is useless to anyone.

If you are using it to navigate, use Google maps, set the destination and turn the voice directions on, and use earphones. Then you can stow the phone in an inner pocket. Most phone snatching happens when people are walking around with their attention on the phone screen instead of looking where they are going.