‘Pickpockets, thieves, swindlers — oh my!’: The raw reality of London street crime and how to stay safe

One minute, you’re blissfully looking down at your phone as you wait to cross the street, shuffling your playlist or checking the time. The next… it’s gone – snatched out of your hand by a biker who fled the scene just as quickly as he entered it. This unsavory situation is something I had the misfortune of experiencing right by Franklin Wilkins Building in Waterloo, a lively region of central London and a vibrant hub of learning and leisure for King’s students.

While the antagonist in my version of this story luckily wasn’t successful in his attempts to steal my phone, this incident served as a much-needed wake-up call for me.

I’m Neha, a 2nd-year student who moved to London from a small town in the U.S. where busy, walkable streets (and the dangers that often accompany them) are practically unheard of.

Despite constantly hearing how widespread petty crimes like pickpocketing and phone theft are in London, I never truly believed it could happen to me.

Now, I’m more alert than ever– and you should be too. Phone snatching has become so common that it’s hard to find a Londoner who hasn’t either been affected or knows someone who has. I would like to use my experience as a cautionary tale to warn you about the importance of street safety and vigilance while being out and about in London.

According to data published by the Met Police, a whopping 70,137 Londoners had a device snatched from them last year. That’s roughly 192 victims each day—most of whom the police are unable or unwilling to help. In order to avoid becoming one of them, it’s best to familiarise yourself with places that could be considered ‘high-risk settings’ for crime, and which precautions you should take to safely navigate them.

• Crowded areas:

From Oxford Street during the holiday season to the Central Line on Saturday evenings, pickpockets and thieves thrive in any location where people are packed tightly together. When entering these sorts of environments, it’s best to secure your belongings in a sealed bag or zipped-up pocket while holding on tight to your totebags or purses.

• Dimly-lit areas:

Surprisingly, quiet or poorly-lit places like side streets and alleyways can be just as risky when it comes to theft and mugging, especially at night. If you find yourself in such a setting, try to avoid having your phone out until you get to a slightly more populated street. Valuable hand-held devices like the latest iPhone, or high-end products like designer bags or Airpods can make you a desirable target for pickpockets. If you ever feel uncomfortable walking somewhere at night, try to lower the visibility of these sorts of items to decrease your risk of getting unwanted attention from sketchy passersby.

• Bars, pubs and clubs:

… Or really, any setting where alcohol is present. While I don’t frequent these places myself, I’ve heard plenty of horror stories from friends who’ve either had their belongings stolen or general safety put at risk while intoxicated— phenomena which tend to affect women the most. In fact, Westminster City Council reported an 11% increase in sexual offences throughout local nightlife hotspots in 2024, and 84% of the victims in question were women. Turning on phone trackers like FindMyiPhone and sharing your location with friends are helpful ways to mitigate the risks involved with going out at night. Another great resource is Hollie Guard, an app specifically designed to protect women from stalking, sexual assault, etc., and collect evidence in the event of a crime

Do…

Invest in wrist or cross-body straps for your phone. I recently bought this one from Amazon, and have never felt more protected from phone thieves! I’ve also had this one from Casetify recommended to me.

• Carry a safety alarm with you when going out. This is a popular and affordable option that dually serves as a strobe light for dark alleyways or underpasses. If you ever believe you’re being followed or are alone at night and feel unsafe, this can be a tiny yet effective way to protect yourself.
• Consider joining a self-defence class, occasionally offered by King’s Sport & Wellness.
• Download the SafeZone app, which allows you to share your location directly with King’s security staff in the event of an unsafe incident on or near campus.

Do not.....

• Stand on street edges while looking down at your phone. Doing so allows bikers much easier access to it, and can cause you to wind up in the very situation I found myself in. Always take a few steps back first, ensuring your phone isn’t an arms-length away from any bikers passing by.
• Leave belongings, drinks, or food unattended when sitting in a cafe or dining at a restaurant– especially if you’re sitting outside. And last but not least – don’t make the mistake I did by assuming ‘it could never happen to me’ because unfortunately, it can.

Remember, there are numerous precautions you can take to mitigate the risks involved with living in a large city such as this.

If you’d like to further educate yourself on the gritty world of street crime in Britain, you can check out this Channel 4 documentary that further explores the reality of phone theft.

Take my advice and gain control over your safety and security by starting today!