Personal Security

Phone Theft in the UK: The Latest Numbers and How to Protect Yourself

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⏱️6 min read
Phone Theft in the UK: The Latest Numbers and How to Protect Yourself

Phone theft continues to rise in the UK. The latest national crime statistics show a sharp increase in theft from the person, and mobile phones are the most commonly stolen item in that category.

The latest UK figures

  • The Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) continues to report elevated theft‑from‑the‑person levels in the year ending March 2025.
  • ONS analysis shows mobile phones are the most commonly stolen item in theft from the person offences.

    • What the crime trend means

    Phone theft is no longer rare or random. Organised gangs target high-footfall areas and move devices quickly. In one recent crackdown, police said a gang was linked to the theft of up to 40,000 phones intended for overseas shipment.

    Reduce your risk in public

  • Keep phones out of sight when not in use
  • Avoid using phones near kerbs or road edges
  • Use a wrist strap or lanyard when possible
  • Enable device tracking and remote lock

    • How Is Everything Safe helps

  • Store purchase receipts and serial numbers in your vault
  • Keep a secure record of IMEI numbers
  • Save police report details and insurer contact info in one place
  • Use QR labels on cases or accessories to improve recovery odds

    • Sources

  • https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/crimeandjustice/bulletins/crimeinenglandandwales/yearendingmarch2025
  • https://apnews.com/article/uk-phone-theft-crime-london-metropolitan-police-2ed90692fd0590d862edaa0af1db1c48

    • Ready to Protect Your Belongings?

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