Can London stop the phone snatchers?
BBC London
3,350,161 views
Police are mounting a major fightback against the organised crime gangs behind London's phone theft epidemic - raiding homes, going undercover and adapting tactics in pursuit of the snatchers.
Investigations reporter Jessica Ure spends time with all the key players involved in the fight against phone theft; filming raids and patrols with the Met as they track down suspect snatchers, going undercover with the British Transport Police in snatching hotspots, watching NPAS assist high-speed snatcher pursuits from the air, and chasing down illegally modified bikes with the City of London Police.
On the streets, vigilantes take the fight against phone thieving pickpockets into their own hands, and we hold the Met’s newly appointed phone theft lead to account over the force’s record.
Find out how thieves are smuggling stolen phones abroad. See what it takes to catch snatchers on high-powered electric bikes. Hear reaction from those who have fallen victim to the crime.
This film was originally released in October 2025.
#London #Police #PhoneSnatching #Investigation #Crime
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20 Comments
I tracked it to a place in Peckham, and told the police where it was, even giving them my Apple ID and login so they could use the "find my phone" feature themselves.
The police went to the location, where the phone was, still live and active, but because it was a phone shop, told me that they couldn't investigate further... (Why?! you were RIGHT THERE!!)
A day and a half later I got an email saying that they had closed the case and wouldn't be taking it further.
A week later my phone pinged again in Acton, then a day later in Hong Kong, then the day after that in Shenzhen.
The whole process gave me absolutely zero faith in the system, especially as they went to where the phone's live location was hours after the theft, and couldn't retrieve it, for reasons still unbeknownst to me.
Only a few months ago a "youth" on and e-bike tried to snatch my phone outside Tesco in Elephant & Castle, and only that I had the iron grip on the phone he was unsuccessful.
Perhaps police on their own e-bikes will makes some sort of difference, but so far, I personally have seen no results with that.
It's much better now. The worst place for phone theft on these fast bikes is Victoria Embankment.
Can London stop the phone snatchers?
BBC London
3,350,161 views
Police are mounting a major fightback against the organised crime gangs behind London's phone theft epidemic - raiding homes, going undercover and adapting tactics in pursuit of the snatchers.
Investigations reporter Jessica Ure spends time with all the key players involved in the fight against phone theft; filming raids and patrols with the Met as they track down suspect snatchers, going undercover with the British Transport Police in snatching hotspots, watching NPAS assist high-speed snatcher pursuits from the air, and chasing down illegally modified bikes with the City of London Police.
On the streets, vigilantes take the fight against phone thieving pickpockets into their own hands, and we hold the Met’s newly appointed phone theft lead to account over the force’s record.
Find out how thieves are smuggling stolen phones abroad. See what it takes to catch snatchers on high-powered electric bikes. Hear reaction from those who have fallen victim to the crime.
This film was originally released in October 2025.
#London #Police #PhoneSnatching #Investigation #Crime
Subscribe here: https://bbc.in/LondonSubscribe
The latest from BBC London: http://bbc.co.uk/london
Instagram: Instagram: bbclondon
Facebook: https://acebook.com/bbclondon
X: https://x.com/bbclondonnews