Met Police phone theft lead says London ‘deserves better’

The Metropolitan Police’s newly appointed chief of phone theft has said its work in tackling crime is not “good enough”.

Just over 1% of phone thefts in London result in a charge or conviction, while the rate for robberies is 11%, according to police force data.

London Assembly member Neil Garratt has called for more to be done to tackle phone theft, which he compared to an “epidemic” in the city.

Major Andy Featherstone, who was appointed two months ago to focus on phone theft at the Met, said the force’s revised strategy, which included targeting organized crime, was making a difference.

Major Featherstone said the problem of phone thefts was an “outlier” for the Met.

“But ultimately that’s not good enough,” he said. “The people deserve better”

Before This month police arrested 18 people 2,000 mobile phones were seized in what the Met claims is its largest ever operation targeting phone theft in the UK.

“We think they are responsible for around 40% of all phone thefts in London,” said Major Featherstone.

“Our directorate for serious crimes was involved in these operations that would not normally occur. Normally, they would be involved in firearms crimes, drug importation, etc.”

He said the department’s response signaled how “serious” phone theft was being treated, adding: “We are directing our best resources and assets towards this type of crime.”

Christian D’ippolito was in Hackney when his phone was stolen while it was unlocked by a group of four men.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Mr. D’ippolito said. “I couldn’t believe this had just happened.

“You see, I never expected in a million years that this would happen to me,” said Mr D’ippolito, founder of the Spartan Project, a charity that supports vulnerable young people.

He said his digital wallet, PayPal account and business banking information were compromised, and the thieves even tried to get a loan in his name.

“It’s actually pretty incredible to see how, when people are given the opportunity, they can brutally exonerate you for everything you have,” he said.

He lost tens of thousands of pounds as a result.

Mr D’ippolito added: “While the general public tends to view phone theft as the loss of a valuable piece of hardware, the criminal mindset will take it for what it is and see what is beyond the value of the phone as the real opportunity.”

Organized crime groups are turning to dealing in stolen phones because of how lucrative it can be, the Met Police said.

The force said a phone thief could make up to £400 per stolen phone, with the devices worth up to £4,000 when sold in China, because the devices are open to the internet and therefore attractive to those trying to bypass censorship.

Accordingly Met with police figures117,211 phones were stolen in 2024; This figure is up 25% from 91,481 in 2019.

Neil Garratt, who represents Croydon and Sutton on the London Assembly, has repeatedly called for more action to tackle the increasing number of mobile phone thefts in the city.

“Last year I challenged the mayor (Sir Sadiq Khan) to show leadership, but he refused,” said Mr Garratt, a member of the Conservative group.

“So I put together a report showing how to deal with phone theft without breaking the bank.”

The report, published in February, recommended targeting a “small group” of criminals who “commit the most crimes”.

“The news that more will be done by the Met is hugely welcome,” Mr Garratt told the BBC. “But I am disappointed that the mayor has yet to take political leadership on this issue, leaving responsibility to an overstretched and underfunded police force.

“If Khan had removed his finger, how many thousands of phones might not have been stolen since then?”

In response, a spokesman for Sir Sadiq said: “Nothing is more important to the Mayor than keeping Londoners safe and Sadiq is supporting the Met to double down on all levels of mobile phone crime with operations to tackle street robbers as well as the rulers and organized crime groups that drive crime in our communities.

“Last month the mayor backed the biggest ever Met campaign to tackle mobile phone crime by successfully dismantling a major international criminal network linked to 40% of all phones stolen in London.

“This work comes alongside record funding from City Hall, which is strengthening visible neighborhood policing and launching specialist operations in hotspot areas such as Westminster and the West End.

“But the police can’t beat this alone.

“The mayor has long made clear that we need decisive and coordinated action to stop the global trade in stolen phones, and he will continue to push the mobile phone industry to go much further in preventing stolen phones being used, sold and repurposed, to build a safer London for everyone.”