Phone thieves targeted by Met operation

Fahad Redha

April 28, 2026
3 min read

An operation by the Metropolitan Police on Friday 24^th April has targeted phone thieves operating in tourist hotspots in south London. This has resulted in six people being arrested for robbery.

Met Officers targeted “crime hotspots” around Southbank, Borough Market, and Waterloo, areas that, according to the Met, “phone thieves are known to operate.” Plain clothes officers, specialist pursuit drivers, and motorbikes were deployed to “catch offenders who often use illegally modified e-bikes to snatch phones and get away.”

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Shortly after midnight, officers identified a group of suspected phone thieves operating on Borough High Street in Southwark. The suspects, according to the Met, were “using a distraction tactic which involved approaching members of the public and asking them to open their phones to follow them on social media.” When a device was unlocked, they would then steal the phones. Officers “move in within minutes to intercept the group,” resulting in the suspects arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to rob.

The Met says that phone theft is one of its top priorities, with offences cut by 13,000 in the past financial year compared to previous. 15 arrests were made in total over a 12-hour period for offences including robbery, theft, and drugs related offences.

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About Author

Fahad Redha

Fahad is the Content Editor at EyeOnLondon, overseeing the publication’s editorial output across news, culture, and lifestyle. With a background in journalism from the University of the Creative Arts, he brings a broad range of experience from local London reporting in Kensington & Chelsea, where he held roles including motoring, events, and health editor. At EyeOnLondon, Fahad plays a central role in shaping content and maintaining editorial standards. His work spans everything from daily news to feature coverage, with a particular strength in motoring and events. He also incorporates photography into his reporting, adding a visual layer to many of his stories. Fahad joined EyeOnLondon in February 2021.