A new interactive map shows where you are most likely to get your phone stolen in London

Unfortunately, having your phone stolen is just as much a part of living in London as riding the tube, or paying well over the odds for a pint of lager.

Now the capital’s theft hotspots have been revealed by a new interactive map, showing where in the city you are most likely to get your phone snatched. The Standard created the map using data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) to reveal the spots where the most robberies take place, and the results aren’t that surprising. 

Which boroughs have the most phone theft?

Not shockingly, the most recorded instances of phone pinching were across central London. Westminster saw the most items nicked in 2024, per ONS data, with 3,752 robberies and 66,623 thefts taking place over the year. If you’re not aware of the difference, a robbery is a theft that uses a threat or force, while a theft is when the item is taken without threat. Phone snatching, essentially.

SW1 was followed by Lambeth, which had 2,321 and 18,946 robberies and thefts respectively, while Southwark came in third with 2,069 and 22,165. Camden had the fourth highest theft rate, with 1,814 robberies and 27,051 thefts.

Which boroughs have the least theft?

Kingston upon Thames had the lowest number of recorded robbery and theft offences in 2024, with 216 and 5,082 respectively. This was followed by London’s happiest borough, Richmond upon Thames, which had only 297 robberies and 6,024 thefts over the year. Sutton had the third least, with 313 and 5,040 instances recorded. 

ICYMI: London is officially home to all of the UK’s top 10 pickpocketing hotspots. 

How do they do it? Discover the ever-evolving art of the sly London pickpocket.

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