How London police stole a march on the rampant phone theft that was tarnishing the city's reputation
After the pandemic lockdowns and following the rise of electric bicycles for hire , London was being swept by a wave of mobile phone thefts harming its image at home and abroad. In just over two years, more than 10,000 phone thefts were reported on the prime shopping strip of Oxford Street. It seemed mobile phone theft in London was out of control , to the extent the trend was being described as…
London police have taken decisive action to combat the surge in mobile phone thefts that have tarnished the city's reputation. In just two years, over 10,000 phones were stolen on the bustling Oxford Street alone, leading the Met to dedicate resources to fighting this "epidemic." The force began using specially adapted motorcycles to pursue thieves on electric bicycles, a tactic that has since helped reduce the number of mobile phone thefts by 29 percent in the year to August 2025.
Major successes include dismantling a gang responsible for trafficking up to 40,000 stolen mobile phones from the UK to China, and arresting three key members who received prison sentences. The Met Police also traced a shipment of iPhones heading to Hong Kong and used evidence to identify the gang's members, including Afghan nationals Amir Muhammad Khadikhel and Ismat Miakhel, who were jailed for 9.5 and 9 years respectively.
Cmdr Featherstone emphasized that mobile phone theft is a key indicator of the city's safety, stating that London is a safe and attractive destination for visitors and residents alike. Business leaders have also responded to concerns about the city's crime reputation, launching a campaign to debunk misleading narratives and showcase London as a thriving economic hub.
Written by urgent.news from The National Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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