Alexa Chung Becomes Latest Celebrity Targeted by Phone Snatchers in London
TV presenter and model Alexa Chung told how she clung on to her phone after being targeted by a thief in east London.
"F*** You!" - Chung's Defiant Response
Chung was desperate not to let the criminal snatch her handset because she was involved in a gripping conversation at the time.
Speaking to podcast host Isaac Hindin-Miller, the 42-year-old said:
"Someone tried to nick one off me the other day, but I refused to let them have it. I was in the middle of a group chat and it was really fascinating. I literally tight-gripped it and was like, 'F*** you!'"
London: Europe's Phone Snatch Capital
Chung's defiant stance comes as London remains Europe's phone snatch capital with 80,000 devices stolen last year – one every six minutes.
Celebrity Victims
Many celebrities have fallen victim to London's phone theft epidemic:
Annabel Croft (59)
Former tennis star had her handset taken "clean out of her hands" by a masked thief on a bicycle outside King's Cross station.
Lady Victoria Hervey (49)
Socialite was left shaken after being mugged for her mobile phone in Pimlico by an e-bike rider.
Susan Hampshire (88)
Emmy Award-winning actress had her phone and purse robbed on the London Underground.
Rosamund Pike (46)
Ex-Bond girl was punched in the face for her mobile during a terrifying mugging.
Kym Marsh (49)
Former Coronation Street actor had a device ripped from her hands while walking down Buckingham Palace Road.
Genevieve Chenneour (27)
Bridgerton actress was left "severely agoraphobic" and unable to leave home following a phone theft that turned violent on Kensington High Street.
Other Victims
- Seann Walsh (39) - I'm A Celebrity star
- Michelle Tsiakkas (30) - Strictly Come Dancing contestant
- Kate Garraway (58) - Good Morning Britain presenter
International Smuggling Network
Last month, the Metropolitan Police disrupted an international network suspected of smuggling 40,000 stolen phones from the UK to China over the past 12 months.
The force launched Operation Echosteep in December 2024 after a box containing about 1,000 iPhones being shipped to Hong Kong was found at a warehouse near Heathrow.
The Economics of Phone Theft
Police specifically targeted Apple products because of their profitability overseas:
- Street thieves paid: up to £300 per handset
- Devices sold in China for: up to $5,000 (£3,711)
Police Call for Industry Action
Commander Andrew Featherstone, the Met's lead for tackling phone theft, said:
"We've dismantled criminal networks at every level, from street-level thieves to international organized crime groups exporting tens of thousands of stolen devices each year. Londoners deserve to feel safe."
He added: "We're calling on phone manufacturers such as Apple and Samsung to do more to support us and protect their customers — especially around phone security and re-use."
💪 Fight back with knowledge: Complete our security checkup to make your phone as secure as possible.
Source: Evening Standard, 14 November 2025