Pickpocketing is surging in London with the nation’s prime ten hotspots all within the capital, a examine revealed right now as criminals more and more goal unwitting vacationers.
Westminster Metropolis Council is by far the UK’s worst space for pickpockets with 28,155 stories of theft from the individual between March 2023 and March 2024.
This equates to 13,320 stories per 100,000 folks, with the borough additionally seeing the most important enhance – with a 712 per cent rise over three years since 3,466 in 2021.
Many victims in Westminster are considered vacationers turning into distracted whereas visiting landmarks similar to Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Sq. and Huge Ben.
Common vacationer areas similar to Covent Backyard, Soho, and Mayfair are additionally hotspots with gangs identified to be concentrating on cellphones and jewelry together with watches.
Camden, house of the well-known market, has the second-highest price at 6,848 incidents or 3,141 per 100,000 folks, primarily based on evaluation of Workplace for Nationwide Statistics information.
The analysis by licensing agency Get Licensed put Southwark – house to Shakespeare’s Globe and The Shard – in third with 5,935 thefts or 1,903 per 100,000 folks.
Sam Gordon, 20, who works as a waiter in Chinatown in London’s West Finish, advised MailOnline that he sees folks getting pickpocketed ‘on a regular basis’ – and has even been a sufferer himself
Steven Lorrimam, who runs a memento store by the London Eye, mentioned theft was notably an issue close to Waterloo prepare station and outdoors resorts
The opposite London boroughs within the prime ten have been Kensington and Chelsea, Hackney, Islington, Lambeth, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Haringey.
Volunteer police officer attacked after stopping pickpocket on bridge
Among the many most high-profile current pickpocketing incidents in Central London noticed a volunteer police officer attacked when he tried to cease a theft from a lady on Westminster Bridge.
Ned Donovan, a grandson of creator Roald Dahl who volunteers as a particular constable, grabbed a pickpocket after seeing a theft on the afternoon of August 19 – however was then set upon by the person’s accomplices.
They punched, kicked and choked Mr Donovan to get him to launch the person.
This left Mr Donovan with a black eye, bloody nostril, neck marks, a scratched eye socket and cuts from biting.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed to MailOnline right now that no arrests have been made, however enquiries are ongoing.
In Westminster, Sam Gordon, who works as a waiter in Chinatown, mentioned he sees folks getting pickpocketed ‘on a regular basis’ – and has even been a sufferer himself.
The 20-year-old advised MailOnline: ‘It is often later at night time. I might say round midnight is prime time. The way in which they do it’s a group of two or three folks fake to be drunk and somebody hangs their arm over your shoulder.
‘Then, one other individual comes up – apologises for the drunk individual – and so they go away. Then you definitely realise your pockets is lacking. It occurred that strategy to me. They took my telephone.’
Mr Gordon advised how the crime ‘occurs to vacationers on a regular basis’.
He continued: ‘Folks get their telephones snatched off tables once they’re sitting within the highway at eating places – they only snatch it and run.
‘One among my associates received her pockets stolen alongside right here. She seen when cash began leaving her account. They stole £9,000.
‘It was as a result of it was a Hong Kong checking account – and she or he struggled to get in contact with anybody to cease it due to the time distinction. Then it was too late.’
Darren Day, 57, mentioned the difficulty can also be rife round vacationer hotspots.
The tour bus employee mentioned: ‘It occurs lots round right here. These pick-pocketers – they have it all the way down to an artwork these days. You do hear folks saying that their telephone or pockets has gone lacking.
‘I’d say it is extra telephones. Folks snatch them whereas whizzing previous on bikes. There’s nothing you are able to do – they’re too quick.
‘They aim people who find themselves holding their telephones out. Or those that have it protruding of their again pocket.’
Ali El Guerch, 24, a bartender in Covent Backyard, mentioned thieves have even began lurking round pubs, the place they put a chunk of paper on the desk earlier than taking a telephone
Tour bus employee Darren Day, 57, mentioned pickpocketing is rife round vacationer hotspots in London
Malik Nadeem, who runs a memento store by Westminster Bridge, mentioned vacationers are particularly focused by thieves.
The 47-year-old added: ‘They go for vacationers as a result of they’re extra unaware. They assume London is a protected place. However truly it is an actual downside round right here.
‘They take wallets and telephones out of individuals’s again pockets – and cyclists come previous on this cycle lane and snatch issues from folks’s palms whereas they’re ready.’
Kamen Smith, 40, who works as a bus tour agent in Trafalgar Sq., mentioned he and others within the trade attempt to warn vacationers about the issue.
He mentioned: ‘We attempt to warn vacationers as a result of it does occur lots. Particularly when the sq. is busy on the weekends – you may see folks making their method by way of the crowds. They often work in a gaggle of two or three.
‘However I might say you see a telephone get snatched on daily basis. And vacationers get focused – notably Asian vacationers. I do not know why.’
Steven Lorrimam, who runs a memento store by the London Eye, mentioned theft was notably an issue close to Waterloo prepare station and outdoors resorts.
‘Folks get focused there,’ the 29-year-old mentioned. ‘Cellphone snatchers catch vacationers once they’re at bus stops or visitors lights.
‘It was once an issue round right here – folks getting pickpocketed and getting their telephone snatched. But it surely’s not as unhealthy on this stretch anymore.
‘It nonetheless occurs on Westminster Bridge, although. There’s the ‘roses’ rip-off – when a lady provides you a rose and then you definitely take it and she or he calls for cash. When you’re distracted, another person comes alongside and snatches your telephone and pockets.’ Ali El Guerch, 24, a bartender who works in Covent Backyard, mentioned thieves have even began lurking round pubs.
He mentioned: ‘They do that factor the place they put a chunk of paper on the desk and swipe your telephone or pockets that method. We attempt to advise prospects to not go away something on the desk.
‘After we see it, we inform them to depart. They will get fairly impolite however on the finish of the day they know they’re within the incorrect. It is all the time been unhealthy round Central London, proper? However I might say the bike telephone snatching has positively gotten worse.’
A tuk-tuk driver, who works throughout London, mentioned that the difficulty is at its worst in Covent Backyard
In the meantime, a tuk-tuk driver, who works throughout central London, mentioned that the difficulty is at its worst in Covent Backyard.
‘Teams of pickpockets goal folks as they go away the theatre,’ the 50-year-old mentioned. ‘In case you stand round and watch it, you will see. They slip into the crowds and observe folks.’
He additionally alleged that Asian vacationers are focused essentially the most, including: ‘They notably go for Chinese language vacationers. They aim them. It is terrible.’
Exterior of the capital, the world with the best pickpocketing price is Manchester which was in eleventh place with 4,500 incidents or 797 per 100,000 folks.
The Lincolnshire district of North Kesteven has the bottom variety of with simply three per 100,000 folks – whereas Ribble Valley was second with eight per 100,000. South Holland in Lincolnshire was third with 9 per 100,000.
Cops are pictured in London’s Leicester Sq., which is inside the Westminster space
The largest drop in pickpocketing instances since 2021 has been noticed on the Wirral in Merseyside, which reported a fall of 59 per cent. Close by, Knowsley in Liverpool noticed a 57 per cent lower, whereas stories fell 50 per cent within the Ribble Valley.
Whereas Westminster noticed the most important enhance since 2021, the Cotswolds has additionally suffered a pointy rise with pickpocketing incidents up 529 per cent.
Some 347,000 incidents of theft from the individual have been reported throughout the UK within the yr ending March 2024 – a 40 per cent enhance from 247,000 within the earlier yr.
Safety professional Shahzad Ali mentioned the information highlighted what he branded the ‘sheer scale of the epidemic’.
Mr Ali, chief govt of Get Licensed, added that it was ‘essential that folks throughout the nation know methods to preserve themselves and their belongings protected from pickpockets’.
He suggested utilizing a zip-up bag worn throughout the physique to cut back the probabilities of somebody taking it out of your shoulder – whereas protecting vital belongings similar to a pockets, telephone and keys in a smaller cross-body bag to maintain them nearer to you.
Mr Ali continued: ‘Having your telephone in your hand or again pocket could make you extra of a goal to pickpockets. Keep away from utilizing your telephone in busy locations and preserve it in your smaller bag when not in use.
‘In right now’s day and age, shedding your telephone is an enormous deal, risking extra than simply the gadget itself. Telephones home loads of private info, similar to contact, financial institution and personal particulars.’
He additionally urged folks to watch out of the place they place your baggage – and if taking a seat, they need to place their bag by their toes reasonably than on the again of a chair.
Mr Ali added: ‘In case you’re in a busy place, it may be advisable to position your foot by way of one among your bag’s straps for further safety, decreasing the chance of somebody with the ability to snatch it when strolling previous.’
Requested in regards to the scourge of pickpocketing within the West Finish – which is a part of the Westminster space – trade group New West Finish Firm mentioned safety was ‘the only largest funding’ for the enterprise enchancment district.
Vacationers outdoors the Homes of Parliament in Westminster the place pickpocketing is rife
Dee Corsi, the organisation’s chief govt, advised MailOnline: ‘The safety of all those that go to the West Finish stays our prime precedence.
‘ Our ongoing partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service and key stakeholders goals to make sure that guests can benefit from the district safely.
‘A detailed working relationship with the Metropolitan Police Service, and the sharing of strategic intelligence from our personal 24/7 Safety Staff has resulted in quite a few arrests in current months.
‘We’re dedicated to enhancing these efforts to additional scale back crime throughout the West Finish.’
And Detective Chief Superintendent Christina Jessah, who leads policing for the Metropolitan Police’s Central West Command, advised MailOnline: ‘Westminster is a vibrant and thrilling place to go to with a wealth of historic landmarks and points of interest – this will imply crowded pavements, that are the popular setting for road thieves.
‘So as to cease and/or disrupt the actions of road criminals, we’re deploying police assets to hotspot areas in Westminster, rising patrols by each uniformed and plain clothed officers to apprehend and deter criminals, whereas additionally making officers extra visibly out there to the group.
‘As well as, we now have enhanced our City Centre and West Finish Policing Groups to offer stronger partnership working all through the West Finish.
‘We’re working arduous to maintain Londoners and guests to our Capital protected from thieves, however there are steps that folks can take to assist us to guard their property.’
She urged folks to ‘keep alert to their environment in crowded locations and look out for any suspicious behaviour’.
DCS Jessah added that pickpockets ‘typically work in pairs or teams, often in crowded areas similar to iconic landmarks, points of interest or stations’.
She continued: ‘One of many suspects will often distract the potential sufferer whereas their confederate commits the theft.
‘Some widespread techniques utilized by pickpockets are bumping into you, spilling a drink on you, hugging you or handing you one thing, or asking for instructions. Whereas any of these items will be fully harmless, these are instances when you’ll want to be further vigilant. Please do not make it straightforward for them.
Vacationers on Westminster Bridge, which is without doubt one of the areas focused by pickpockets in London
‘Firstly, earlier than you bought out, ask your self if you’ll want to be carrying excessive worth gadgets or money. If not, please go away it safe at house. In case you do want to hold costly gadgets, place them in entrance or inside zipped or buttoned pockets.
‘In case you are carrying a bag, guarantee it’s totally closed in order that palms cannot attain inside and the place attainable carry it throughout your physique. If you’ll want to use your telephone, attempt to not use it in crowded locations the place palms can attain over and take it from you.
‘We wish everybody to get pleasure from London and its great points of interest, however we won’t fight crime alone. Please assist us to maintain you and your property protected by being pickpocket conscious.’
Final month a vigilante pickpocket hunter claimed to have noticed 16 thieves in only one afternoon working round in style vacationer hotspots in London.
Jaime van Gastel, 52, who’s from the Netherlands, got here to the UK for a brief weekend to seek out pickpockets stealing from vacationers.
He mentioned he caught 23 pickpockets in London on August 10 and 11 – together with 16 on the Saturday and one other seven on the Sunday round websites similar to Huge Ben and Buckingham Palace .
Mr van Gastel, who has been looking pickpockets since 1995, additionally revealed that Asian vacationers are usually the group most focused by the thieves.
London just isn’t the one European metropolis affected by pickpockets, with vacationers in Barcelona taking more and more excessive measures to guard themselves from being preyed upon.
British Olympic sailor Sir Ben Ainslie’s £16,000 Rolex watch was stolen in a theft at knife-point within the metropolis final month amid a surge within the variety of high-end watch thefts.
To keep away from falling sufferer to pickpockets, some vacationers within the Spanish metropolis are actually tying purses to their legs whereas sitting in eating places or leaving all their jewelry within the lodge protected.
