Snatch Theft – What It Is And What’s Being Done About It?

When we’re out and about, it’s inevitable that we’ll need to whip out our phone to check something – yet we’d never flaunt its cash value equivalent in public. Clocking these large prizes, ‘snatch theft’ has risen to a 20-year high, with figures from the Office for National Statistics showing that there was a total of 99,000 snatched items in England and Wales in 2024. That’s up from 58,000 in 2023, making it a staggering 70 per cent rise, and equating to 270 snatch thefts every single day.

While it only used to be an issue in the wrong part of urban areas at night, snatch theft now happens in broad daylight, on popular streets, and to anyone. Now that we all need to be aware of it, let’s take a close look at what it is, and what’s being done about it.

What exactly is snatch theft?

It’s defined as a form of street crime that involves the swift theft of personal items like phones, handbags and wallets. While muggings involve confrontation and the threat of violence, these thieves approach and leave the scene of the crime swiftly. Often, they’re on bikes or mopeds, and they sometimes work in groups. Crowds and distractions make it easier to snatch and get away, and while they don’t always happen in urban areas, London is particularly affected, with cases increasing by 151% in the last year.

Because of the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it nature, it’s difficult to crack down on these criminals. Snatch theft can result in seven years in prison, but less than 1% of ‘theft from a person’ reports result in a charge, and 82% don’t even find a suspect.

So, what’s being done about it?

Realising that it’s becoming a huge societal issue, there’s been strong collaboration between the government, police and phone manufacturers.

A summit in February saw the government promise to give police more powers to enforce the law when it comes to snatch theft, for example by being able to search properties without a warrant when a tracker shows a stolen item is present. The police will step up their targeted activity nationwide, especially in high-risk periods like Christmas and when a new phone is released. 13,000 neighbourhood support officers will also help keep to deter these street crimes and keep the streets safe.

Another line of defence lies with tech companies.  Device tracking like the ‘Find My…’ function – which allows owners to locate, lock and erase their valuables – is becoming more widely used, especially with the rollout of geo-tags. And theft detection features are becoming more sophisticated too. For example, Google is introducing a new feature that uses AI to detect if a phone is being stolen, and automatically locks it if so. We’re also seeing initiatives like anti-theft apps, and phone marking with QR codes or synthetic DNA to make stolen items traceable.

The most effective deterrent lies with phone owners. The Met Police has produced useful advice on how to prevent snatch theft. This includes making the most of your phone’s security features, noting its IMEI number, and being aware of your surroundings if you’re using your phone. It also advises to not confront a thief, as it compromises your safety.

In all, the best advice is not to have valuables out in public. It might be difficult to navigate new streets or make calls without checking your phone, but workarounds like stepping into shops to use your phone or going hands-free, can help keep your valuables out of everyone’s eyesight. After all, phones are the most expensive and useful item most of us own, so it’s important to protect them accordingly.

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