The next time you take out your phone to plan your itinerary, take selfies or simply wave it around in public, police are warning you to always be cautious as cases of phone theft are on the rise across London.

There are many ways phones can be stolen, including being snatched from you by force or being secretly ripped from your pocket or purse.

But which London borough has the most phone thefts and what can you do if your phone is stolen?

London boroughs with increasing mobile phone theft

According to the Metropolitan Police report, Greenwich is the London borough where the number of mobile phone thefts has increased the most. Last year there were 451 cases, 123 percent more than the previous year (202 reports).

Southwark came in second with an 81.4 percent increase in phone thefts compared to the previous year, followed by Westminster with an increase of 71 percent.

Camden and Lambeth saw a 40 percent increase in mobile phone thefts, prompting further warnings.

However, the British police’s study on mobile phone theft was not all negative. In certain districts, including Kingston upon Thames, Sutton and Richmond, there was a decrease in mobile phone thefts of around 25 percent.

The worst London boroughs for mobile phone theft

A study conducted by insurance company Loveit Coverit used Metropolitan Police data from January 2023 to 2024 to estimate the areas with the highest number of phone thefts per 1,000 residents:

• Westminster

• City of London

• Camden

• Southwark

• Kensington and Chelsea

• Islington

• Hackney

• Lambeth

• Newham

• Tower Hamlets

According to the data, Westminster is the London borough with the highest number of phone thefts per 1,000 residents.

What to do if your phone is stolen?

A Metropolitan spokesman said: “It is important that victims and witnesses contact the police immediately after a robbery. The first hour after a robbery, or the ‘golden hour’, is crucial to catching the robbers.

“In that first hour, officers can secure crucial forensic evidence and help get violent criminals off our streets.”

Report the incident to your local police station as soon as possible by attending in person, calling 101 or reporting online. You should provide the authorities with the phone’s identification number (IMEI), which you will receive from your network operator. Make a note of the criminal record number, which you will need to make an insurance claim.