In London, a cell phone is reported stolen every six minutes.

The BBC recently released data showing that an average of 248 cell phones are stolen each day in London, with the Met Police proving to be largely ineffective at retrieving the snatched devices. Statistics obtained by the BBC showed that more than 91,000 reports of cell phone theft were recorded in 2022, with the Met Police recovering just 2% of the devices reported as stolen. The UK police watchdog, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMCIFRS), said that the current statistics surrounding cell phone robberies are “unacceptable and unsustainable”, and that they play a significant factor in the public’s perception of the efficacy of London’s police force. The London boroughs of Westminster, Camden, and Southwark recorded the highest number of cell phone thefts in 2022, with the police recovery rates in all three below even the 2% average for the entire city. Phone theft also represents an identity theft risk, given the vast amounts of personal data stored on the devices. One woman, Georgina Banham, told the BBC that the fear she felt after her phone was stolen in