
Phone theft epidemic advice
In this piece, Gavin Wilson, tackles London’s growing phone theft epidemic with a simple message: treat your mobile like cash.
With more than 80,000 phones reported stolen in London in 2024, Wilson explains how distraction, visibility and routine behaviour are fuelling opportunistic crime. From e-bike snatches to crowded street pickpocketing, thieves are targeting unlocked devices that hold far more than just resale value, often giving criminals access to banking apps, emails and personal data.
His advice focuses on practical habit changes. Keep devices out of sight, use secure pockets, activate biometric locks and remote wipe features, and avoid using your phone openly in high-risk areas. Small behavioural shifts, he argues, can make you a far less attractive target and significantly reduce the risk of becoming the next statistic.










