London Phone Snatching - Advice

[Stardust35]

Hi, I'm planning a solo day trip to London in a few weeks. There are a few things I want to do there, and I have a rare day off work coming up so wanted to take myself on a day out! I used to love going to London and visited friends there often but haven't been in a few years.

I keep hearing about phone snatching by criminals on mopeds, and am a bit worried how to prevent this. I'm likely to need my phone out a a lot for directions on google maps as I want to visit a few different places during the day. How common actually is this and does anyone have any way of minimising the risk? Or am I overreacting! Thanks x

You can get phone cases with a strap to wear cross-body, or lanyard attachments things…

I came to recommend the above, I have one of these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/ZTOFERA-Crossbody-Silicone-Protective-Adjustable-Pink/dp/B0B5DHCSGT?ref_=Oct_d_Oct_d_ss_d_21532907031_4&pd_rd_w=5sLmq&content-id=amzn1.sym.765c2a5e-908b-46d6-a33c-66b56e483441&pf_rd_p=765c2a5e-908b-46d6-a33c-66b56e483441&pf_rd_r=0S8GF5YFQTRYRDT2XYV5&pd_rd_wg=YNxmL&pd_rd_r=c5cd5c27-be40-4167-bf24-bbf61a9c06e0&pd_rd_i=B0B5DHCSGT

Get an A-Z.

You could get a lanyard that attaches to your phone, and wear around your neck while using it?

Hard agree. Get a mini A-Z.

In any case, I don't think it's wise to walk around looking vaguely lost in any city with a £££ phone in your hand.

Me too. It's really common
place and getting worse.

It happened to me. Although it was pick pocketed out of my zipped bag in a shop, they're really good at what they do unfortunately and I just had no idea it had happened. I always keep my wits about me but unfortunately shops get really, really busy. It's happened to a lot of people I know.

I would recommend a strap and stand in enclosed doors if you really need it. Keep your bag infront of you and hold onto it. When sitting down keep your bag on your lap, especially when eating.

I used to love using my mini pocket A-Z in London many years ago.

Don't walk along the kerb side, don't use it crossing the road and try and memorise the next two turns etc and get it out when you really need it. If your on a tube don't sit the doors, a middle seat is better with a phone and bags as they can't just snatch and jump off. Simple precautions.
I work in London and don't walk about with my phone ever

I know it is more common - I'm not doubting the police stats - but just to reassure OP, I live and work in London and I don’t know anyone it's happened to.
Agree an A-Z is a good idea. And a cross body bag with zip. Never leave phone out (for instance, on table in a cafe). If you have a valuable phone, could you consider taking a crappier one (put your sim in an old phone) so you've got less to lose?

It isn't common across when whole of London. I've seen the drama videos on social media and sometimes the same video comes up with Paris or Milan named instead of London.

There are a few hotspot areas, I've heard other another said archway and Oxford Street. I could believe kings x would be an issue too. There were a spate of snatch thefts in local high street but it was all one person and one they were caught totally ended.

It's true that it occasionally happens, but it tends to happen when people are walking close to the edge of the pavement while using high-end mobiles and not really paying attention.

The best advice is to keep away from the kerb and to avoid wearing earphones.

The Police have become really sharp on mobile thefts recently, as can be seen in this City of London Police video.

https://x.com/CityPolice/status/1798313399115505911

Where would you like to go while you are in town?

You might like to get the hop-on/hop-off bus, if you would like to do some sight-seeing.

https://www.bigbustours.com/en/london/london-routes-and-tour-maps

I would use something like this:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0859RF8K1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07ZZ5WRCT/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It clearly happens but I’ve lived in London 15 years and it has never happened to me or anyone I know. You’d have to be incredibly unlucky for it to happen on such a short visit. As others have said, don’t be checking your phone right next to the road, do it on the other side of the pavement, ideally work out the route before you set off like people used to before phones. Make sure you have a card or cash to pay for things if you do lose your phone. Make sure any sentimental pics or things on your phone are backed up.

But seriously don’t let fear of this ruin your trip, on an individual level it’s so unlikely it’s not worth too much worry.

Oh, and I haven’t looked into it personally so do check if there’s a safe way to do it but I 100% would not attach my phone to me in any way. Much better someone snatches your phone than you get dragged along behind a moped.

I live in london.

I use a phone strap so it's harder to grab it. Also you can't drop it. Or leave it behind by accident. And it can't be snatched off a cafe table .

Also you can disable some settings if it's an iPhone. The setting where you can scroll down from Home Screen and put into airplane mode can be disabled. So that if it is stolen you can remote disable it and track its location (the 1st thing thieves do is put devices into airplane mode

And for travel generally I recommend the large Uniqlo cross body bag. Big enough for a water bottle, sunglasses, tissues, wallet and can clip to cafe seats and tables so it can't be snatched.

I've lived here 20 years and it's happened to one person I know, once.

I think it's more common for it to happen to teens on the school run because they walk around like zombies with their heads in their phone so they're very easy to snatch. Just keep your phone in your pocket and only get it out when you need to use it.

It's not the Wild West here!

All these silly Wild West comments, no one is saying it is but clearly phone theft is a problem

I’ve never seen it happen. Use an oyster or bank card to pay for tickets so you can keep you phone in your bag. Perhaps buy a small a-z or print out a couple of google maps. As other people have said there are quite a few street maps on posts in central London.

Problem with that is if the thieves have your SIM card they have your data: passwords, bank info... the lot.

It's not just touristy areas - happens all over London. It's big where I live (SE), with lots of phones being snatched from kids after school and people walking home from the station. I guess it's because when the pavements are crowded, there are always people close to the curb and kids who've had their phones off all day are keen to respond to notifications on their socials. Most phone snatchers are on bicycles or Ebikes, so they are near the pavement and relatively silent. Use your phone for directions and photos by all means, but keep glancing up and around you. You need to be aware of your surroundings at all times, a bit like keeping an eye on small children when you are out. And in bars and cafes, have one of the straps of your bag around your ankle and never leave your bag open. I couldn't tell you how often it happens, but it is a fairly common occurance and you just have to be vigilant. When you live here, keeping your possessions safe becomes instinctive, but if you are from the provinces you have to remind yourself.

What phone do you have? I use Google maps a lot in London and tend to assume that my rather battered 5yr old Samsung won't be that attractive to thieves...

I fell foul of this one! I felt so stupid! Beggar took it whilst distracting me asking for money and pretending to touch my food (that’s the point I lost concentration!) and swiped it from the table.

Use a strap/lanyard around your neck and loop it around your wrist while using the phone.

Don’t hold your phone out in one hand as you’re leaving a tube station, they hang around there waiting for someone to come out looking confused & probably searching for directions on their phone.

Honestly once you step in to the inside of the pavement and look semi-alert you will be fine. They are looking for quick swipes and easy targets.

I really wouldn't attach your bag to your ankle. A relative of mine sustained a serious head injury and fractured spine when she fell and was dragged along by a motorbike when he snatched her bag. It was 10 years ago and she has been very unwell since.

Use common sense and you will be fine. I live and work in London, its the same with all things throughout history, taking cash out of a cashpoint (put the money in your purse before you walk away), don't leave bags unzipped, use a cross-body bag. Basically all those things as a woman (especially) I take for granted and adding one more thing to the list of stuff we are mindful of. Don't let it spoil a trip to our wonderful capital city. I have not heard of one person who phone snatching has happened to.