Crackdown to halt rise in phone thefts

The government has pledged to crack down on ‘snatch thefts' after this criminality soared by more than 150 per cent in the last year.

An estimated 78,000 people had phones or bags grabbed from them on the streets, with policing intelligence suggesting that this is being driven by increased demand for second-hand smartphones, both in the UK and overseas.

To tackle this challenge head on, tech companies and manufacturers will be called to attend a Home Office Summit on the issue, looking at the new innovations that could take on the illegal market. This will build on anti-theft smartphone features that some tech firms have already rolled out to protect their customers.

The government will also task police chiefs to tackle this scourge in neighborhood theft. Operation Opal, the national police intelligence unit will launch an intelligence probe to gather urgent intel on the criminals who steal mobile phones, and where these devices end up. This will provide a stronger picture of the stolen mobile phone market, and identify what more needs to be done to tackle the problem.

Local police will also continue to surge police patrols in areas most at risk of serious violence, including robberies at knifepoint, with the government working with forces across the country to ensure that there is visible police presence in these hotspot areas to deter criminals and protect our communities.  

New Home Office analysis commissioned by ministers concerned by growing reports of this issue has revealed:

• Crime Survey data estimates for the latest 12 months indicates the equivalent of more than 200 snatch thefts every day on streets across England and Wales, the highest rate in more than a decade, and almost 60 per cent higher than the annual average since 2012/13.
• The latest Crime Survey estimates also showed overall theft from the person, which includes snatch and stealth thefts as well as attempts to steal from the person, increased by more than a third in the past year. 
• Latest published estimates from the Crime Survey for England and Wales show that over one third (36 per cent) of theft from the person offences involved theft of a mobile phone in the past year. 

Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson said:

“With new phones coming to market and young people going back to school and university, many of us will have a new phone in our hands at this time of year. These figures are troubling and the government is determined to do whatever's necessary to protect people entitled to walk the streets without the threat of robbery.

“As part of our Safer Streets mission, this new government is determined to crack down on snatch theft, knife-enabled robbery, and other crimes that make people feel unsafe in our communities, and we are working to get thousands more uniformed officers into our communities to restore neighbourhood policing.  

“Phone companies must ensure that any stolen phones can be quickly, easily and permanently disabled, rather than re-registered for sale on the second-hand market, and we will be meeting them soon to discuss what further action is required to make that happen.

"If we work together, Government, tech companies and law enforcement can break the business model of the phone thieves and moped gangs who rely on this trade.”

National Police Chiefs' Council lead for Personal Robbery, Commander Richard Smith, said:

“Personal robbery can have a devastating impact on victims, leaving them with trauma which can be lasting. Criminals often target some of the most vulnerable in society, such as children, with threats that violence may be used, making robbery particularly traumatic. We continue to target those habitual criminals responsible for prolific offending, whilst working to prevent young people from being into this type of offending.

“During Operation Calibre, our national police week of action against personal robbery, police forces targeted their activity in over 1250 known hotspot areas, increasing our visibility and operational activity and arresting those intent on committing crime. However, we know that we cannot arrest our way out of this problem. Manufacturers and the tech industry have an important role in reducing opportunities for criminals to benefit from the re-sale of stolen handsets.”

“There are several tips you can do to reduce the chances of you becoming a victim, included below. I encourage everyone to follow these and share them with family and friends. If in the unfortunate circumstances you are a victim of robbery, report it to the police or contact Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org).”

ENDS

Notes for Editors

• Mobile phone companies have also looked to tackle this market. Since 2013, the introduction of enhanced anti-theft security features on smartphones has led to a substantial long-term decline in the number of phone thefts, as the opportunities to unlock and re-sell stolen phones have been reduced.

• Data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales in the ‘theft from the person' category (defined as thefts without the use of physical force, or the threat of it, to take phones, handbags, wallets, etc. from a victim) shows that in the year to March 2024, there were 78,000 snatch thefts in England and Wales, compared to 31,000 in the year to March 2023, an increase of 153%.

• https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/datasets/crimeinenglandandwalesappendixtables, table A1

• In the year to March 2024, just 0.8 per cent of offences of ‘theft from the person resulted in a charge; 81.9 per cent of offences ended with police closing the investigation without finding a suspect.

• https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-recorded-crime-open-data-tables, Outcomes open data, year ending March 2024.

• Previous coverage of the Home Secretary's calls for action from the mobile phone companies can be found here:

• Please see further advice from the Met police on vigilant measures to take to protect your phone from theft:

• Visible policing in areas at risk of robberies by knifepoint is part of the government's continued support of hotspot policing across the country to tackle serious violence and ASB.

•  Personal Robbery Safety Tips
• • Anyone can become a victim of robbery, but there are steps you can take to stay safe.
  • You are less likely to be targeted if you look confident. Move with purpose and try to be aware of your surroundings.
  • Plan your route and think about what to take with you, especially if you're going somewhere you haven't been before. Keep to busy, well-lit streets, walkways and paths which are more likely to be covered by CCTV. Only take licensed taxis or minicabs booked by phone or a mobile phone app.
  • Keep your mobile phone and valuables out of sight. If you're using your phone it's more likely to be snatched from your hand as you're not paying attention to your surroundings, so look around you.
  • And never leave a mobile, any other device, wallet or purse on the table of an outdoor café, pub or restaurant.