Met Police cut phone thefts by 13,000 in July after Lambeth Bridge robbery

London recorded 13,000 fewer mobile phone thefts in July 2025 after the Metropolitan Police launched its largest-ever operation against the crime. The force deployed e-bikes, drones and live facial recognition in hotspots, including Lambeth Bridge, where housing minister Sally Jameson was robbed earlier this year.

Jameson, a former prison guard, was crossing the bridge when a thief on a bicycle snatched her phone from her pocket while she was on a call. She chased the robber and shouted until the phone was returned. The incident was reported by the *Evening Standard* in August 2025.

Thefts fall after crackdown

Metropolitan Police figures show 71,391 mobile phone thefts were recorded across London in 2025. A phone was stolen every seven to eight minutes before the operation began. In July, the force reported 13,000 fewer thefts after doubling patrols in the West End and other hotspots.

Sir Mark Rowley, the Met’s commissioner, said Apple’s changes to device security had made stolen phones harder to reset. He told reporters last month that only 20% of stolen phones are now reactivated, down from 80% earlier in the year. Thieves now find stolen devices are “unusable bricks”.

What happens next

The Metropolitan Police said patrols and facial recognition will continue in theft hotspots. Residents can report stolen phones via the force’s online portal or by calling 101. Apple has not confirmed whether further security changes are planned for its devices.