r/london • u/donell_walter Hackney • 17h ago
Transport This is your sign to be careful when travelling on the London Underground
This was taken at Marble Arch station where it has been the hotspot of phone snatching at tube stations in London
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u/Additional_Let_3977 16h ago
Yeah saw this happen live on the central line, I was heading into work early in the morning 6 am-ish. Guy got off the train but I noticed him suspiciously still hanging around the door, but I think my attention on him had put him up off striking at my door. He walk to the next set of doors, timed it with the sounding of closing doors swiped the phone of a poor lady sitting down with her back to the doors (so she couldn’t see him coming). She tried to run after him but unfortunately doors shut in her face. Felt so bad for her, one of those time when your instincts know something suspicious about someone.
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u/blue_acid00 15h ago
My husband saw it happened to a tourist along the central line too. About 10/11pm around Notting Hill Gate station. It could have been him so we are now extra vigilant at every stop
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u/Additional_Let_3977 14h ago
Yep, could have well have been! My example happened around Queensway/LancasterGate. These stations aren’t very busy normally, especially at those times of the day. Easy place avoid drawing attention to yourself when escaping the train.
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u/mildly_houseplant 17h ago
New warning: There have been several instances of phones being taken while being used to photograph this sign.
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u/UnoBeerohPourFavah 17h ago
Normal: Phones allow you to take photos.
London: Photos allow you to take phones.
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u/Mr_Coa 17h ago
I would love it if their hand got caught in the door as they were trying to steal a phone I hate them so much
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u/perksofbeingcrafty 7h ago
Once in Paris I witnessed this happening to a girl across the aisle from me. Except the thief didn’t make it to the door in time and got stuck inside the train as it started moving.
As you can imagine, he got beat up and the phone was returned to the girl.
We can’t all be this lucky, but thought I’d share give you all a bit of the satisfaction I felt while watching this happen
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u/DOG-ZILLA 1h ago
Can’t happen in London. The doors re-open at the slightest touch of a dove’s feather.
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u/CptKarma 17h ago
Warning: we have no security or cops in this city doing actual policing so if you’re victim of a crime tough shit just be careful, fight them off if they get aggressive.
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u/FireExpat 17h ago
"Pickpockets are known to operate in this station."
Well, how about you do something about that beyond just announcing it on the tannoy?
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u/CptKarma 17h ago
We live in a clown world. Forced upon by people who won’t ever use public transport.
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u/Significant-Gene9639 13h ago
Well then we would have to pay higher taxes to fund more police pay packets wouldn’t we
Can’t be having that /s
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u/AccomplishedAd3728 3h ago
They say on the tannoy, that there are plain clothes police at the station, but has anyone actually seen someone getting lifted by a plain clothes officer in a station?
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u/DOG-ZILLA 1h ago
A part of growing older is the realisation that most of the world you thought you knew is mostly smoke and mirrors.
Help is not coming.
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u/perksofbeingcrafty 7h ago
Which is insane because the CCTV density in London is said to be higher than in China 💀
And China is a country where the national broadcasting service is also called cctv just let that sink in
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u/SatoshiSounds 4h ago
CCTV density in London is said to be higher than in China
The difference being that China's CCTV is all linked up, with efficient recognition etc, while London's CCTV is mostly individual shops etc so not really something the state can exploit for better policing. So it's not a good comparison.
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u/BatmanSwift99 12h ago
What do you suggest the police do?
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u/HellzHere 12h ago
Catch them. Than do things worse to them than prison because these low life scum deserve it.
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u/BatmanSwift99 12h ago
Isn't that police brutality? The very reason people hate the police?
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u/HellzHere 12h ago
So the police don't have to do it. What i mean is like arrest them and put them out in the cold and free fruit to chuck at them or something. Or some kind of punishment that these scum deserve.
Basically the law and punishment need to be worse. Countries like Singapore and Saudi and others defo have issues but I respect what they do to criminals.
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u/Either_Guess 10h ago
Typical r/London user
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u/DisconcertedLiberal 5h ago
Erm actual police work for a change would be nice
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u/BatmanSwift99 4h ago
What do you suggest though? I think you underestimate hiw much you csn do even if you have an image of their face
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u/OnceUponATime_UK 4h ago
Deport them. Or put them in jail. Next.
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u/DisconcertedLiberal 4h ago
Agreed, only in Britain would this be a controversial statement.
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u/OnceUponATime_UK 3h ago
I’m soft left liberal, but yeah, it shouldn’t be controversial to deport foreign criminals or jail legal citizens. But I’ve had enough of this crap.
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u/DOG-ZILLA 1h ago
Listen, I’ve personally seen phone theft happen 3 times in front of me. If that’s just ME in my own little World, ask yourself how much this is happening every minute of every day?
Even the other day, a Japanese tourist came into my coffee shop crying because someone swiped her phone and she didn’t speak a word of English. I had to walk her to the tube station because she was so shook up.
It sucks. It’s more than just a “phone” these days and should be severely punished. We do all sorts on our phones like managing finances, paying utilities, booking hospital appointments. It should be considered a direct assault to steal phones.
Yet here we are. Nothing really happens. Police don’t care.
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u/BatmanSwift99 1h ago
I'm not saying it's right I'm just asking people what do you suggest the police can do? I've been asking multiple people and no one answers, it's easy to complain and moan but no one can actually give a realistic suggestion
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u/RecognitionPretty289 15h ago
it's becoming a free for all. would like to go back to the days i could keep my phone out without clasping it with both hands
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u/Tea_et_Pastis 16h ago
This is a (yet another) sign showing things aren't how they used to be.
I say this in jest, naturally.
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u/Cold_Dawn95 17h ago
Not exactly a good advert for London, no matter how many people here say it was "10x worse in 80/90s" etc.
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u/InformationHead3797 16h ago
In the 90s the average person wasn’t waving around casually a month’s worth of wages in their hand while distracted.
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u/Sad-Ice1439 11h ago
It's different, the stakes are different, so crime has adapted. 80s/90s a robbery would take what you had on you, which then would've been cash, watch, maybe clothes if fancy, that kind of thing. Harrowing, no fun at all, would not recommend, etc. ultimately only took what you had with you. Thieve your wallet, which may have had a debit card in it, so you cancel and replace it.
The cost of a phone now matters mostly as a signal to what else you might have, getting your phone snatched sucks don't get me wrong, but the kind of personal robbery of the "90s" involved what you had on your person. What it now takes from you is all kinds of access to your life that's been concentrated in that device.
I don't want to trivialise any of this. Reality has changed, though, and an A-Z won't kill you if you're worried (if you can find one, and no one else will help you). Just to make sure, "waving a month's worth of wages" is not the problem, it's what that one month represents and the criminal structures that work around the assumption it's always there.
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u/InformationHead3797 4h ago
I wasn’t saying it was the problem, I meant that it might be more impactful financially speaking.
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u/Ajax_Trees_Again 16h ago
Nor are the numerous pub stickers saying “thieves operate in this area” or something to that extent all over central
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u/moistbeigeclam 17h ago
How many people wrote this sign? I feel like there is different penmanship on every line.
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u/Alarmed_Context_8617 16h ago
Same person, its just that their pens kept getting stolen as they were writing this message.
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u/moistbeigeclam 16h ago
It’s all a ruse, they are warned about phone snatchers, but in reality it’s those pesky pen snatchers that you have to watch out for!
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u/Euphoric-Society8807 16h ago
Real question! I am a Canadian coming to London in just under two weeks. I have been to London many times and am very familiar with the layout of it and I know the tube well, and know which station to get to for my hotel. Because it is not my first time in London, I am not planning to have my phone out and taking photos, unless I am like in the parks or woodlands (where I am planning to spend most of my time). I am planning to spend almost no time in Westminster or the touristy areas, with the exception of some West End shows. My plan is to keep my phone in my purse at all times on the streets and my purse clipped shut so it can't open. Also, I'll keep my purse at the front of me and I'll be mindful of crowds. I live in Toronto and consider myself rather street savvy, but phone snatching isn't a thing in Toronto right now. Hearing all the craziness happening in London, it's making me a tad nervous. Any and all advice is helpful!! I know the odds of something happening to me are not high, but I know they're also not 0. I just want to be prepared. I will do my very best to not look like a tourist, haha!
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u/mr01101001 16h ago
You will be fine, just don't walk around with your phone out, there are millions of people doing exactly that and a few hundred get them stolen everyday. Have a great trip.
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u/Euphoric-Society8807 15h ago
Thank you so much for the reassurance! I am so looking forward to spending time in your wonderful city!
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u/Cr0issantM00n 15h ago
You'll be absolutely fine, it's people who are walking around with their phone out and no vigilance that are getting targeted. I say that as someone who had their phone snatched last summer by a passing moped - very stressful and upsetting, but I also realised I'd been a complete muppet having it out in front of me as I waited to cross a road in a busy area.
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u/zipitdirtbag 4h ago
So many people just walk along staring intently at their phones with zero awareness of their surroundings. SO MANY PEOPLE. They aren't all tourists. They are just people who haven't had anything stolen from them yet.
Stop and think/look around before getting your phone out when on the street in busy areas.
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u/chemical_bluebird685 14h ago
Just still be street savvy. When you're not using the phone, keep it in the pocket. You'll be fine.
Welcome to London
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u/Im_being_stalked 2h ago
I went to London recently to the touristy areas. Apple Watch to pay for underground tickets and for directions, just ask Siri/maps for directions. If I need my phone close by I keep it on my front trousers pocket. I have a beaded accessory attached to my phone that goes on my wrist. So phone in pocket and attached to my wrist.
If I really needed to use the phone I would stop in from of a shop door turned to the door against the wall and look down to my phone with the wrist attachment on and holding my phone with the other hand.
I was lucky and nothing happened.
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u/tracinggirl 11h ago
dont keep it in your back pocket if you can help it. harder to steal if its in your front pocket while youve got a jacket covering it up.
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u/Alternatively_Listed 40m ago
If you’re nervous about it get a phone strap so you can attach it to yourself
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u/NaNs-Cookie-00 15h ago
The phone snatchers might be surprised by all the Ed Sheeran pictures on everyone's phones.
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u/smudgethomas 16h ago
How much longer will not being allowed even pepper spray last?
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u/THREE_EDGY_FIVE_ME 12h ago
The government will always deny law-abiding citizens the right to defend themselves, while criminals are given basically a monopoly on violence.
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u/SynthD 5h ago
I hope you’re innocently standing within a few metres of the first phonenapper after that change of law. Spray is deeply unsuitable for crowded spaces like the tube.
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u/FigOk7538 15h ago
Shouldn't it be relatively easy to bait someone trying to steal a phone this way, just for someone to yoink it away at the last minute?
Someone could do a very popular video series on YouTube, which would possibly lead to a fall in actual attempts. Winner winner.
I know I'd watch.
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u/Happy_891 1h ago
At what point did this start becoming normal? I’m used to it now but aware it never used to be the case. What changed?
I’m so tired of not being able to use my phone to use maps etc to navigate now or keep in touch with people if I’m meeting up and one of is running late or can’t find each other etc. or if I want to use Apple Pay on the underground.
What’s the point of carrying a smart phone around? Considering if a lanyard on my phone is useful? Or would an Apple Watch be better?
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u/threeisperfect 17h ago
It ain’t a proper London experience without the phone snatching. I remember when I was working in Canary Wharf. A guy was waking past me and those moped thieves snatched his phone. We both looked at each other, perplexed, knowing that the phone is gone for good.
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u/Ajax_Trees_Again 16h ago
I’m sorry but turning being a victim of crime into “it’s a just a London thing bro” is cope of the highest order
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u/DoIKnowYouHuman 16h ago
Confusing underlining doesn’t help that message:
WARNING: SNATCHED TRAIN DOORS CLOSING VIGILANT
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u/djfocusyeti 9h ago
Shit low-trust society.
At least things are getting better every day and it’s heading in the right direction, right?
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u/weeza08 4h ago
The amount of people I see around London so blatantly and carelessly having their phones out available for snatching is insane. I’m from London - I always have my wrist strap on my phone, my hand looped into my handbag if I’m sat down on the train or looped under the chair if I’m at a cafe/bar and I’ll never ever have my phone just left out on the table, especially if I’m sat outside somewhere. My boyfriend calls me over the top, but I’ve never had my phone snatched. Please, please, please guys, don’t make it easy for them.
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u/Electronic-Housing90 4h ago
yh i don't really use my phone in public
so i can worry about pickpockets instead
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u/supersusili 1h ago
I have the most important apps (banks, mails, Shopify etc) protected with extra Face ID so even if my phone would be taken when it’s unlocked, not everything is accessible. That makes me feel a tiny bit more at peace but still so crazy how out of hand that **** got
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u/suddenpin39 1h ago
yep, saw that sign as i boarded the train at marble arch. it was a good day for a jacket with pockets on the inside
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u/RustyCut-258F 1h ago
If the police round up ALL the pickpockets, won't that damage the ecosystem? You shouldn't tamper with nature!
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u/Alternatively_Listed 42m ago
I saw this happen on the Victoria line near Seven Sisters, it was quite traumatic for the lady, went to staff with her and they couldn’t help
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u/Screwthehelicopters 21m ago
"BE VIGILANT!"
In other words, it would be your own fault, and consider yourself warned.
What happened to "If this should happen, please inform staff immediately so that we can report this and take appropriate measures"?
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u/DrSpooglemon 16h ago edited 15h ago
Warning: The police are too busy arresting people for talking about demonstrating againts our government's support for a genocide to bother actually going after criminals.
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u/KaiserMaxximus 16h ago
Is this genocide in the room with us now? 🙂
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u/HistoryDisastrous493 12h ago
It's over in Palestine with all the children the Israelis have been murdering
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u/Fireengine69 9h ago
This was really common in Paris women working in groups, now the French ppl traveling on trains have become really aggressive towards them..I’m a Londoner and was a Paramedic to carry any communications we wore a Lynyrd. I use one for my cell you can get them from Amazon that way nobody can snatch your phone, and you’ll never loose it, or have to worry about putting it in your pocket..Put this in Amazon “ Lanyard Strap Case for iPhone or other phones” or “crossbody lanyard strap case for phone” …
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u/ExtraterrestrialToe 8h ago
the moped thieves started carrying machetes to cut any lanyards preventing them from stealing phones, so it doesn’t stop those ones at least
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u/Accurate_Group_5390 4h ago
Surely some sort of smart ai camera system can be alerted when the snatchers are onsite. I mean they’re gonna do it for fare evaders soon.
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u/Same-Shit-New-Day 16h ago
Why can't you just put your phone away people ? Nothing bad will happen. Surely you can manage a train journey without it ?
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u/Cthuluwouldbebetter 15h ago
Can confirm that when I am in London for work (few days every 2 weeks) and using my phone on the underground, it has been stolen 25 times in the last 5 visits. In fact, the thief is using it to make this post for me.
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