People working in the UK's phone-snatching capital say they see the crime "all the time" - with victims as young as four years old being targeted.
Workers in Westminster in central London claim phone theft happens daily - mostly to "unaware" tourists.
Criminals' most common tactic is to whizz past on a bike or moped and grab the phone while their victim is distracted - such as when they are taking a photo or checking their messages at a traffic light.
Figures collated by local news site Southwark News show that Westminster is the worse area in London for phone snatching - with a shocking 22,253 incidents reported in the year leading up to September 2024.
The police are seeing a rise in phone snatching incidents.
That equates to 85.4 thefts per every 1,000 people.
Discussing the problem, Paul, who works by the London Eye, said: "I see it all the time. I would say every day.
- "It's worst around this touristy part of London - particularly along Westminster Bridge.
- "It happens to tourists a lot because they're unaware. I try to warn them but it doesn't always work.
- "One time, a family asked someone to take a photo of them in front of the London Eye.
- "And the guy they chose ran off with their phone.
- "Usually though, they come past on their bikes and snatch the phone before anyone has a chance to react. It's a real issue."
- Workers say they see phone snatching everyday.
- The 51-year-old said he sees the same culprits at work again and again.
- "There are groups of them who are here all the time," Paul said. "The police know about them.
- "Sometimes, they get arrested. But they're back 24 hours later and doing it again.
- "And they don't always target tourists. One of the other guys who works around here got his phone stolen near Waterloo Station.
London has been named the phone-snatching capital as crime is on the rise in the region.
People working in the UK's phone-snatching capital say they see the crime "all the time" - with victims as young as four years old being targeted.
Workers in Westminster in central London claim phone theft happens daily - mostly to "unaware" tourists.
Criminals' most common tactic is to whizz past on a bike or moped and grab the phone while their victim is distracted - such as when they are taking a photo or checking their messages at a traffic light.
Figures collated by local news site Southwark News show that Westminster is the worse area in London for phone snatching - with a shocking 22,253 incidents reported in the year leading up to September 2024.
The police are seeing a rise in phone snatching incidents.
That equates to 85.4 thefts per every 1,000 people.
Discussing the problem, Paul, who works by the London Eye, said: "I see it all the time. I would say every day.
- "It's worst around this touristy part of London - particularly along Westminster Bridge.
- "It happens to tourists a lot because they're unaware. I try to warn them but it doesn't always work.
- "One time, a family asked someone to take a photo of them in front of the London Eye.
- "And the guy they chose ran off with their phone.
- "Usually though, they come past on their bikes and snatch the phone before anyone has a chance to react. It's a real issue."
Workers say they see phone snatching everyday.
The 51-year-old said he sees the same culprits at work again and again.
- "There are groups of them who are here all the time," Paul said. "The police know about them.
- "Sometimes, they get arrested. But they're back 24 hours later and doing it again.
- "And they don't always target tourists. One of the other guys who works around here got his phone stolen near Waterloo Station.
- "And he's a big guy - I wouldn't want to mess with him.
- "I've had them trying to steal my phone too. Even though they know that I know who they are. It's bold."
Ovye, who works for a bus tour company, said the thieves target "anyone" - including children.
He said: "It can happen to anyone. I once saw someone snatch a phone out of a little girl's hand while she was taking a picture.
- "She can't have been more than four years old. Unbelievable."
The 36-year-old said the issue is particularly bad around the Marble Arch area - but admitted he had little faith in the police taking action.
He said: "It happened to one of my colleagues while she was in Marble Arch. It happens so quickly.