A lot of Americans are going to be traveling to London and other European capital cities this year. As a precaution, travelers should be on the lookout since many locals and tourists have had some serious issues with mobile phone theft right out of their hands.
After seeing one video on Instagram, my feed is now filled with them. Here are a few of them so you can visualize what I’m writing about: This one below is from the Daily Mail: “London is not safe for your phone 😬 A woman on Oxford Street became the latest victim of thieves who use bikes to sneak up on unsuspecting phone-users. A Twitch streamer captured the moment it happened.”
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Here’s another of a tourist riding a bike and looking at his phone.
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As you can see, these snatchers operate on e-bikes or scooters and are usually dressed all in black, including their helmets. Once they grab your phone, you’re not going to catch them.
There’s not much you can do but avoid using your phone out in the open. You also don’t want to use it near the train or subway doors. Check out this video of a girl getting her phone snatched as the tube doors close.
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Londoners are trying to combat the problem by catching these thieves, especially when they fall off their bikes. Here’s an example:
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However, I don’t recommend this unless there are a lot of people around to help as there are reports of thieves stabbing victims trying to fight back. “Three people have been taken to hospital after trying to fight a robber who had snatched a phone in Bishopgate, London. A victim of a ‘phone-snatch’ was reportedly stabbed after trying to fight back. Other members of the public were also attacked when they tried to intervene. London Ambulance Service stated that four people were treated by paramedics at the scene and three of them were taken to hospital. The police have confirmed the incident is being treated as a suspected robbery and not terror-related.”
The good news is that the city is well aware of this public relations nightmare and according to the BBC, “a clampdown on the “industrial-scale” crime of mobile phone-snatching across London has resulted in 230 people being arrested by the Metropolitan Police in the past week. In its battle against the “scourge of mobile phone crime”, the force said it had also seized more than 1,000 handsets. The Met has deployed plain-clothed officers in “hotspot” areas, including the West End and Westminster, and is also using tracking technology to recover phones and catch criminals.”
Finally, the city and police are cracking down and hopefully this will be a non-issue but the skeptic inside me thinks it’s not going away anytime soon. So while you’re out enjoying one of the most beautiful cities in the world (and other places), always remember to use your phone wisely.
One of the best bags to help keep your phone and other valuables safe from would-be thieves is a theft-proof crossbody bag like the one pictured above. The Travelon Anti-Theft Classic Mini Shoulder Bag has a slash-resistant exterior and strap, it’s RFID-blocking to keep your passport and credit card information safe and has multiple zippered compartments. Buy here.
When Rick Steves got pickpocketed in Paris, he says that his big mistake was not wearing a money belt. A money belt like this one can keep your valuables, including your phone, safe from thieves.
BTW: This kind of theft doesn’t just happen in Europe. My brother, who is not a small guy, had his phone ripped right out of his hands while he was on the phone, by a man on a bicycle in Connecticut. This was over a decade ago but it just goes to show it does happen here and to anyone.
KEEP READING:
–Rick Steves got pickpocketed In Paris – Here’s how to prevent it from happening to you
–Trip report: Toronto to Barcelona in Air Canada’s Premium Economy
–Why you should wear a money belt when you travel
–Going to Europe or somewhere hot this summer? Pack a wearable or portable fan to beat the sweltering heat
–Traveling to a tourist hotspot this summer? Here’s what to wear to keep your valuables safe
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