Phone theft - Lordship Lane

[Lucyd]

Be wary - just witnessed a man on a bike steal a young ladies phone from the bus stop outside M&S on Lordship Lane at about 6pm this evening. He cycled off down North Cross Road. 

[malumbu]

Mate had his nicked on LL before Xmas.  Guys on bikes

[bonaome]

Had mine swiped out of my hand by a passing uber food cyclist. Stand well back from the road if using your phone. Very easy for a passing cyclist to snatch it and be off. 

[cr123]

Someone on a bike tried to snatch mine when I was walking home this evening around 7pm on Colwell Road. I luckily had a good grip on it.

[SalmonKing]

  On 28/01/2025 at 19:58, cr123 said:

Someone on a bike tried to snatch mine when I was walking home this evening around 7pm on Colwell Road. I luckily had a good grip on it.

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That's brutal, so happy to hear you had a good grip! It's such a shame that we need to two hand grip our phones these days all across London. Doesn't make you want to live in such a place where you don't feel safe. The people nicking phones are pathetic scum. I would welcome the opportunity to knock one of those dickheads off their bike until the police arrive. 

[Moonglum]

  On 29/01/2025 at 12:46, SalmonKing said:

That's brutal, so happy to hear you had a good grip! It's such a shame that we need to two hand grip our phones these days all across London. Doesn't make you want to live in such a place where you don't feel safe. The people nicking phones are pathetic scum. I would welcome the opportunity to knock one of those dickheads off their bike until the police arrive. 

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You'd be the one they'd end up booking if you did that unfortunately mate if the police even showed up. 

[pikeyed]

I know everyone is well aware of the phone snatchers by now, but just a reminder to be on your guard. Just watched a guy on a bike ride onto the pavement on Lordship Lane near the post office and try to snatch a phone from a woman. Thankfully she managed to hold onto it. There were two of them cycling around.

[teddyboy23]

These could be the same 2 who stole a phone off a young girl on lordship Lane this morning .between 7,30 8.0 near cheese block.scumbags

[Peckhampam]

And at about 8 I saw a phone being snatched on Grove Vale-as well as horrible for the victim it was incredibly dangerous.  Bike rider rode along pavement at high speed and then continued on to cut into road in equally dangerous manner

[peckhambog]

  On 29/01/2025 at 15:33, Moonglum said:

You'd be the one they'd end up booking if you did that unfortunately mate if the police even showed up. 

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Under Section 3 of Criminal Law Act 1967 ANY PERSON may use such force as necessary in the prevention of crime or assisting in the arrest of offenders or suspected offenders.

Key message is the force used must be proportionate. 
Sadly many of these offenders carry knives (such as the two who stabbed people in Bishopsgate when bystanders intervened. The offenders were subsequently tracked down but it might have been a murder enquiry but for a few millimetres.)

Therefore robust action should only be taken if you are confident.

As per the previous post, your actions will be scrutinised but could be completely lawful.

[march46]

I hope witnesses are phoning 999 to report a crime in progress. 

[sandyman]

Saw the aftermath of another phone theft on east dulwich grove by trio last night. Then half an hour later spotted them biking back to 'work'. Crazy the police can't do anything about this - they are clearly cruising the same streets. 

[HelenX]

When mine was stolen I tracked it to Dog Kennel Hill Sainsbury's car park, where it sat for several hours, and then over to a phone shop on Rye Lane in Peckham. Police thought they likely stash them somewhere in the car park until they have a few to drop off. It's literal schoolkids, so even worse in the holidays.

[Dulwichway]

Sad times, we know who they are, but plod do nothing (hands tied?) and quickly swept under the carpet!  and that's just from the few that are reported.

[malumbu]

It depends on resource, likelihood of arrest and prosecution and no doubt other factors.  It's good to publicise the threat and to take action ourselves to minimise our vulnerability.  And all reports to the police help to build intelligence even if they don't act on every incident.

[FellbriggSam]

This is awful. When I’m out and need to take a call, I use my AirPods and, if I have to look at my screen, I stand with my back against a wall and hold my phone in a death grip.

[Sue]

  On 02/07/2025 at 07:36, FellbriggSam said:

This is awful. When I’m out and need to take a call, I use my AirPods and, if I have to look at my screen, I stand with my back against a wall and hold my phone in a death grip.

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I have recently invested around three pounds in a cheap phone lanyard.

There are loads of different kinds and many places sell them including eBay and Amazon.

They are really easy to fit inside a phone case, no sticking required, you can still use the charging port and they are easy to remove again if you don't want it on when you are inside.

I wear it when at a bus stop etc looking at bus times.

It would make it much harder for someone to snatch my phone, unless they cut the lanyard.

[beansprout]

I have taken to not using my phone on pavements in London period.. feel very vulnerable around ED anyhow as am alot slower with walking these days.

When  you-think about it, surely we can all last until get to cafe, hospital, train station, shop, etc without this overwhelming need to see/check phone! Bus times are usually accurate when you tip up and never long to wait for buses anyhow.

I use my phone alot during the day for various reasons but, trying to not use it  is the real test. I have found that you can always ask someone who, generally happy to accommodate.

Lanyard that Sue has suggested - good idea but still phone is visible in this heat I would have thought, assuming she wars it round her neck so personally, think it is worse as bikers, gangs etc can just rip it off as they pass.

[Dulwichway]

  On 02/07/2025 at 09:43, beansprout said:

I have taken to not using my phone on pavements in London period.. feel very vulnerable around ED 

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Sad times, and these crimes are only going to increase whilst next to nothing is done.

[Sue]

  On 02/07/2025 at 09:43, beansprout said:

Lanyard that Sue has suggested - good idea but still phone is visible in this heat I would have thought, assuming she wars it round her neck so personally, think it is worse as bikers, gangs etc can just rip it off as they pass.

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It would be very difficult indeed to rip it off in passing. They would find it very difficult to get it over my head, I would have thought?

However I stand well  away from the edge of the pavement and keep an eye out.

Many bus stops don't have indicators of bus times, including the one outside the Post Office, which I use a lot.

If I'm going somewhere which is only served by one of the buses from that stop, I don't like not knowing whether I will have to wait two minutes or twenty minutes, and I often forget to look before I leave the house.

  On 02/07/2025 at 10:03, Dulwichway said:

Sad times, and these crimes are only going to increase whilst next to nothing is done.

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What more do you think could be done?

Hordes of police at every minute of the day standing at every possible place in Inner London where somebody may get their phone out?

Obviously I'm joking, but I don't think there's any indication that the police don't take these crimes seriously.

There's been a noticeably increased police presence around ED lately, and there are various police/community initiatives where you can make your voice heard if you have concerns and  sensible ideas to contribute.

It's very easy to complain without knowing all the background and the full facts.

If memory serves, and I'm sure someone will correct me if it doesn't, a previous Tory administration drastically reduced police numbers in London.

Therefore it's even more important for the police to assess priorities when deciding where to concentrate their limited resources.

I imagine that  things like phone thefts and shoplifting come rather further down the list of priorities than things like stabbings and sexual assaults.

Edited July 6 by Sue