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 live in central london and have seen it happen mostly outside tube stations by people on Lime bikes.

Apple have introduced new security features so they can't spend loads of money on your cards. Consider activating these.

Personally I try not to have mine out when walking down the street. Be wary if you are near the pavement/ road interface. At tube stations I get it out. Tap through and then put it away.

its organised crime - they sell them for parts and ship to China

I live in London and have seen it a few times, always young men on hire bicycles grabbing a phone as they cycle past. They go onto the pavements to snatch phones from people's hands.

I never learn and I talk on my phone when I'm out every day and so far not had it happen to me. Yet.

So I wouldn't be too worried, but be alert.

Anyone considered keeping a second really basic refurbished phone to use for travel payments and maps when on holiday in places where phone snatching happens a lot?

My phone was second-hand anyway and is ancient, but losing it would still be a disaster - I find I need it for verification for just about everything these days. Seems mad to use a device with all my banking, personal email, social media and everything on to pay for tube travel or just to look at a map.

Buy a paper a-z and keep your phone tucked away.

As long as you don't walk around with your phone out in your hand you should be fine

It's rife these days. Happened to 3 friends in the past month.

get yourself a pager from the Israeli defence Force. Sorted.

In the last year, I've been in London, Paris, New York and Rome (x3) and never have had it happen to me or seen it happen. That not to say it's not rife - I am generally pretty security conscious but I do take my phone out to make payments or take photos, so maybe I have just been lucky!

One of my DC lived for a year in Rome and never had any problem but one person on her course did have their phone taken.

I think you just have to be aware of your situation. Keep your phone secure at all times and don't use it in crowded places.

I had never heard of phone snatching as a thing before this weekend. However I have seen first hand young lads trying to steal a very expensive road bike by using an angle grinder to break the lock in London. The scariest thing was everyone just watched or carried on with their business. We called the police and gave the licence plate of the moped they were on but it was never followed up.
Since then I have been very aware of my surroundings but on reflection my behaviour has always been cautious.
When I visit London I use my bank card rather than my phone for the tube. Purely because I have seen people struggling to get their phones to work.
If I have to check the tube map I use the big one at the station or a paper map just because I find it easier.
If I have to check maps I move to the inside of the pavement (but that's just to cause less disruption to the flow of pedestrians).
I think the key is to be aware of your surroundings and your own security but not to let anxiety ruin your trip.

It does happen quite often but usually it's when people are in busy places texting and not paying attention. You'll be safe at the turnstiles. I just kept mine in my coat pocket or handbags. No problems in my weekend break.

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.

This

I live in London and have my phone out a lot. I don't know anyone personally that it has happened to but am aware it is rife. I see people shoplifting daily so as far as I'm concerned that is a bigger issue. I am very conscious of pick pockets though and nearly had my phone taken out of my pockets in the West End last year.

I've not seen it myself, but I am much more cautious when using my phone out and about. When I don't need it for information, it's in my bag. I'm relying more on paper maps and bus stop countdown now. Use your bank card on transport. Just take precautions, you'll be fine.

Please ignore people saying it’s never happened to them and therefore you don’t need to worry.

Statisticslly, it obviously hasn’t happened to most people, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a massive problem.

Anyone walking around with their phone out is asking for trouble at the moment. I live and work in zone 1 and I see phone snatchings regularly. I no longer take my phone out of my pocket if I can help it. If I really need to use my phone I go into a shop or cafe or stand in a doorway.

Pay by card and use the map at the station or at least find a quiet corner with your back towards the wall seems the obvious solution.

Also means you wouldn't be one of those inconsiderate people holding everyone else up because you're faffing with your phone in the middle of a thoroughfare.

I was at a bus stop in London and I saw a phone snatched out of the hand of a guy who was standing in the queue in front of me by the kerb side. They were on an electric moped? and made a quick get away. Getting on the tube is another risk as they snatch and the doors close behind you. Personally I do not get my phone out in the street , it is kept in a zipped pocket inside my jacket. I carry my Oyster card inside my glove. A colleague had a visitor to London from New Zealand. Her phone was snatched on her first day in London. It is rife.

I live and work in London, never seen it happen or heard of anyone I know experiencing it. Just don’t walk around with it in your hand and you’ll be fine. And use a bank card for transport. The people who take ages and hold up the queue are always the ones trying to use a phone!

This is why I'll never get rid of my Oyster card.
Use a paper A-Z or refer to the big poster maps on the street.

No it depends on what phone you have

My family may scoff but I will take my trusty A-z this year so I don’t have to wave my phone around to navigate

Don’t know where people who talk about London live but I’ve seen it happen frequently in stjw, Belsize Park, Camden, Hampstead, Oxford Circus… also, they snatch it from people on the bus right before the doors close, it’s everywhere. If you do have a latest model, and it’s got to be expensive!!!, keep it in your pocket. If it’s older or cheap go ahead they won’t bother you.

Also I am someone who stuff seems to happen to so have to be extra careful! Happened to me already on the metro but Dh and I fought them off. Ok we didn’t actually fight Dh got punched and the two of us escaped with all our belongings

I know someone who was quite badly hurt when her phone on a lanyard was grabbed off her, so I’m not sure that’s the answer. I usually leave the underground without checking, taking my best guess and check the location at a suitable spot down the road.

I actually felt scared for the first time in London last week near my office in Farringdon as 5 men on bikes mounted the pavement in a back street and zoomed towards me. They took the phone of a woman just a bit behind me and I realised how if they wanted to, they could have taken anything, even my bag not just my phone. Previously I had thought some of it was an over reaction - it isn’t, when a bunch of blokes in balaclavas are speeding towards you, you’re totally at their mercy. Be aware of your surroundings especially if you’re alone and don’t have your phone out.