(MENAFN) The UK has emerged as the European leader in mobile phone pickpocketing, according to data from US insurance firm SquareTrade, as reported by The Times on Friday. Despite making up just 10% of SquareTrade’s European customer base, British consumers accounted for 39% of all mobile phone theft claims.

London is a particular hotspot, responsible for 42% of all UK claims, which equals around 16% of such thefts across Europe. Birmingham ranks second in the country for reported incidents. Since June 2021, phone theft claims in the UK have surged by 425%.

The data shows seasonal spikes in thefts during summer and Christmas, coinciding with increased travel, festivals, and holiday shopping. These trends are backed by the Crime Survey for England and Wales, which recorded a 50% rise in “theft from the person” in the year ending December 2024 — totaling 483,000 incidents, with mobile phones being the most frequently stolen item.

A separate study by Compare the Market earlier in 2024 revealed that over 70,000 phones were stolen in London alone, averaging 1,349 thefts per week. Replacing those with current models could cost Londoners around £70 million. The Metropolitan Police say nearly 40% of London’s thefts happen in Westminster and the West End, estimating that phone theft generates about £50 million annually for organized crime groups.

This dramatic increase in thefts is occurring against the backdrop of mounting economic challenges and declining living standards in the UK. The National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) has highlighted that Britain struggles with both low wages and limited welfare support, leaving many in financial hardship. Additionally, authorities have tied some of the rise in theft and gang-related crimes to illegal migration and criminal networks involving undocumented individuals.

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