Pickpocketing is surging in London with the country’s top ten hotspots all in the capital, a study revealed today as criminals increasingly target unwitting tourists.
Westminster City Council is by far the UK’s worst area for pickpockets with 28,155 reports of theft from the person between March 2023 and March 2024.
This equates to 13,320 reports per 100,000 people, with the borough also seeing the biggest increase – with a 712 per cent rise over three years since 3,466 in 2021.
Many victims in Westminster are thought to be tourists becoming distracted while visiting landmarks such as Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and Big Ben.
Popular tourist areas such as Covent Garden, Soho, and Mayfair are also hotspots with gangs known to be targeting mobile phones and jewellery including watches.
Camden, home of the famous market, has the second-highest rate at 6,848 incidents or 3,141 per 100,000 people, based on analysis of Office for National Statistics data.
The research by licensing firm Get Licensed put Southwark – home to Shakespeare’s Globe and The Shard – in third with 5,935 thefts or 1,903 per 100,000 people.
The other London boroughs in the top ten were Kensington and Chelsea, Hackney, Islington, Lambeth, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Haringey.
Among the most high-profile recent pickpocketing incidents in Central London saw a volunteer police officer attacked when he tried to stop a theft from a woman on Westminster Bridge.
Ned Donovan, a grandson of author Roald Dahl who volunteers as a special constable, grabbed a pickpocket after seeing a theft on the afternoon of August 19 – but was then set upon by the man’s accomplices.
They punched, kicked and choked Mr Donovan to get him to release the man.
This left Mr Donovan with a black eye, bloody nose, neck marks, a scratched eye socket and cuts from biting.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed to today that no arrests have been made, but enquiries are ongoing.
In Westminster, Sam Gordon, who works as a waiter in Chinatown, said he sees people getting pickpocketed ‘all the time’ – and has even been a victim himself.
The 20-year-old told : ‘It’s usually later at night. I’d say around midnight is prime time. The way they do it is a group of two or three people pretend to be drunk and someone hangs their arm over your shoulder.
‘Then, another person comes up – apologises for the drunk person – and they leave. Then you realise your wallet is missing. It happened that way to me. They took my phone.’
Mr Gordon told how the crime ‘happens to tourists all the time’.
He continued: ‘People get their phones snatched off tables when they’re sitting in the road at restaurants – they just snatch it and run.
‘One of my friends got her wallet stolen along here. She noticed when money started leaving her account. They stole £9,000.
‘It was because it was a Hong Kong bank account – and she struggled to get in touch with anyone to stop it because of the time difference. Then it was too late.’
Darren Day, 57, said the issue is also rife around tourist hotspots.
The tour bus worker said: ‘It happens a lot around here. These pick-pocketers – they’ve got it down to an art nowadays. You do hear people saying that their phone or wallet has gone missing.
‘I would say it’s more phones. People snatch them while whizzing past on bikes. There’s nothing you can do – they’re too fast.
‘They target people who are holding their phones out. Or those who have it sticking out of their back pocket.’
Malik Nadeem, who runs a souvenir shop by Westminster Bridge, said tourists are specifically targeted by thieves.
Keep Your Bag Secure
Always use a bag with zips and keep it closed. A crossbody bag is a better option than a shoulder bag, making it harder for someone to grab. If you’re carrying a backpack, keep it in front of you in crowded areas.
Don’t Flash Your Phone
Pickpockets love smartphones, especially when they’re left in back pockets or in plain sight. Avoid using your phone in crowded places unless necessary.
Watch Where You Place Your Belongings
Don’t leave your wallet, phone, or bag unattended in cafés or restaurants. Keep your bag on your lap or near your feet rather than hanging it on the back of a chair.
Carry Less Cash
Try not to carry large amounts of cash. If you need cash, keep it in a zipped compartment or a secure bag.
Stay Alert in Crowds
Crowded places like train stations, shopping centres, and tourist spots are perfect for pickpockets. Be aware of your surroundings, and don’t get distracted by sudden bumps or someone dropping something nearby.
Tips provided by Get Licensed
The 47-year-old added: ‘They go for tourists because they’re more unaware. They assume London is a safe place. But actually it’s a real problem around here.
‘They take wallets and phones out of people’s back pockets – and cyclists come past in this cycle lane and snatch things from people’s hands while they’re waiting.’
Kamen Smith, 40, who works as a bus tour agent in Trafalgar Square, said he and others in the industry try to warn tourists about the problem.
He said: ‘We try to warn tourists because it does happen a lot. Especially when the square is busy at the weekends – you can see people making their way through the crowds. They usually work in a group of two or three.
‘But I’d say you see a phone get snatched every day. And tourists get targeted – particularly Asian tourists. I don’t know why.’
Steven Lorrimam, who runs a souvenir shop by the London Eye, said theft was particularly a problem near Waterloo train station and outside hotels.
‘People get targeted there,’ the 29-year-old said. ‘Phone snatchers catch tourists when they’re at bus stops or traffic lights.
‘It used to be a problem around here – people getting pickpocketed and getting their phone snatched. But it’s not as bad on this stretch anymore.
‘It still happens on Westminster Bridge, though. There’s the ‘roses’ scam – when a woman gives you a rose and then you take it and she demands money. While you’re distracted, someone else comes along and snatches your phone and wallet.’ Ali El Guerch, 24, a bartender who works in Covent Garden, said thieves have even started lurking around pubs.
He said: ‘They do this thing where they put a piece of paper on the table and swipe your phone or wallet that way. We try to advise customers to not leave anything on the table.
‘When we see it, we tell them to leave. They can get quite rude but at the end of the day they know they’re in the wrong. It’s always been bad around Central London, right? But I’d say the bike phone snatching has definitely gotten worse.’
Meanwhile, a tuk-tuk driver, who works all over central London, said that the issue is at its worst in Covent Garden.
‘Groups of pickpockets target people as they leave the theatre,’ the 50-year-old said. ‘If you stand around and watch it, you’ll see. They slip into the crowds and follow people.’
He also alleged that Asian tourists are targeted the most, adding: ‘They particularly go for Chinese tourists. They target them. It’s awful.’
Outside of the capital, the area with the highest pickpocketing rate is Manchester which was in 11th place with 4,500 incidents or 797 per 100,000 people.
The Lincolnshire district of North Kesteven has the lowest number of with just three per 100,000 people – while Ribble Valley was second with eight per 100,000. South Holland in Lincolnshire was third with nine per 100,000.
The biggest drop in pickpocketing cases since 2021 has been observed on the Wirral in Merseyside, which reported a fall of 59 per cent. Nearby, Knowsley in Liverpool saw a 57 per cent decrease, while reports fell 50 per cent in the Ribble Valley.
While Westminster saw the biggest increase since 2021, the Cotswolds has also suffered a sharp rise with pickpocketing incidents up 529 per cent.
Some 347,000 incidents of theft from the person were reported across the UK in the year ending March 2024 – a 40 per cent increase from 247,000 in the previous year.
Security expert Shahzad Ali said the data highlighted what he branded the ‘sheer scale of the epidemic’.
Mr Ali, chief executive of Get Licensed, added that it was ‘crucial that people across the country know how to keep themselves and their belongings safe from pickpockets’.
He advised using a zip-up bag worn across the body to reduce the chances of someone taking it from your shoulder – while keeping important belongings such as a wallet, phone and keys in a smaller cross-body bag to keep them closer to you.
Mr Ali continued: ‘Having your phone in your hand or back pocket can make you more of a target to pickpockets. Avoid using your phone in busy places and keep it in your smaller bag when not in use.
‘In today’s day and age, losing your phone is a big deal, risking more than just the device itself. Phones house a lot of personal information, such as contact, bank and private details.’
He also urged people to be careful of where they place your bags – and if taking a seat, they should place their bag by their feet rather than on the back of a chair.
Mr Ali added: ‘If you’re in a busy place, it can be advisable to place your foot through one of your bag’s straps for extra security, reducing the risk of someone being able to snatch it when walking past.’
Asked about the scourge of pickpocketing in the West End – which is part of the Westminster area – industry group New West End Company said security was ‘the single biggest investment’ for the business improvement district.
Dee Corsi, the organisation’s chief executive, told : ‘The security of all those who visit the West End remains our top priority.
‘ Our ongoing partnership with the Metropolitan Police Service and key stakeholders aims to ensure that visitors can enjoy the district safely.
‘A close working relationship with the Metropolitan Police Service, and the sharing of strategic intelligence from our own 24/7 Security Team has resulted in a number of arrests in recent months.
‘We are committed to enhancing these efforts to further reduce crime across the West End.’
And Detective Chief Superintendent Christina Jessah, who leads policing for the Metropolitan Police’s Central West Command, told : ‘Westminster is a vibrant and exciting place to visit with a wealth of historic landmarks and attractions – this can mean crowded pavements, which are the preferred environment for street thieves.
‘In order to stop and/or disrupt the activities of street criminals, we are deploying police resources to hotspot areas in Westminster, increasing patrols by both uniformed and plain clothed officers to apprehend and deter criminals, while also making officers more visibly available to the community.
‘In addition, we have enhanced our Town Centre and West End Policing Teams to provide stronger partnership working throughout the West End.
‘We are working hard to keep Londoners and visitors to our Capital safe from thieves, but there are steps that people can take to help us to protect their property.’
She urged people to ‘stay alert to their surroundings in crowded places and look out for any suspicious behaviour’.
DCS Jessah added that pickpockets ‘often work in pairs or groups, usually in crowded areas such as iconic landmarks, attractions or stations’.
She continued: ‘One of the suspects will usually distract the potential victim while their accomplice commits the theft.
‘Some common tactics used by pickpockets are bumping into you, spilling a drink on you, hugging you or handing you something, or asking for directions. While any of these things can be completely innocent, these are times when you need to be extra vigilant. Please don’t make it easy for them.
‘Firstly, before you got out, ask yourself if you need to be carrying high value items or cash. If not, please leave it secure at home. If you do need to carry expensive items, place them in front or inside zipped or buttoned pockets.
‘If you are carrying a bag, ensure it is fully closed so that hands can’t reach inside and where possible carry it across your body. If you need to use your phone, try not to use it in crowded places where hands can reach over and take it from you.
‘We want everyone to enjoy London and its wonderful attractions, but we can’t combat crime alone. Please help us to keep you and your property safe by being pickpocket aware.’
Last month a vigilante pickpocket hunter claimed to have spotted 16 thieves in just one afternoon operating around popular tourist hotspots in London.
Jaime van Gastel, 52, who is from the Netherlands, came to the UK for a short weekend to hunt down pickpockets stealing from tourists.
He said he caught 23 pickpockets in London on August 10 and 11 – including 16 on the Saturday and another seven on the Sunday around sites such as Big Ben and Buckingham Palace .
Mr van Gastel, who has been hunting pickpockets since 1995, also revealed that Asian tourists tend to be the group most targeted by the thieves.
London is not the only European city suffering from pickpockets, with tourists in Barcelona taking increasingly extreme measures to protect themselves from being preyed upon.
British Olympic sailor Sir Ben Ainslie’s £16,000 Rolex watch was stolen in a robbery at knife-point in the city last month amid a surge in the number of high-end watch thefts.
To avoid falling victim to pickpockets, some tourists in the Spanish city are now tying handbags to their legs while sitting in restaurants or leaving all their jewellery in the hotel safe.