London Underground mobile phone and accessory theft soars by 400% in three years

The number of thefts on the London underground rose to 15,225 in 2024 – an increase of 34% (11,363) since 2023, according to British Transport Police (BTP) data obtained via Freedom of Information request by MoneySuperMarket.

Since 2021, the number of thefts on London underground trains and at stations rose 382% (3,159).

Mobile phones are the most stolen item on the London Underground by a landslide with 8,414 mobile phones and accessories thefts reported to the BTP in 2024.

This is an increase of 22% from the year before with 6,664 incidents reported in 2023.

According to the data from BTP, there’s been a 405% increase in reports of mobile phone and phone accessory theft from 2021 (1,621) to 2024

Wallets and purses, luggage, laptops/tablets, and headphones/earphones make up the rest of the list of the top five most stolen items.

Other stolen reported stolen on London trains include watches, clothing, footwear, and even keys, according to the data.

There were also 41 cases of mobility aid/wheelchair theft over the four-year period and even reports of hearing aids, charity boxes, and glasses being stolen.

London’s Victoria line has had the greatest number of theft reports, with 3,624 incidents reported to the BTP since 2021. The Victoria line visits high traffic stations such as King’s Cross St Pancras International, Oxford Circus, Green Park, Green Park, Tottenham Court Road, and Euston – all six of which ranked in the top ten for reported thefts on trains. While the Northern and the Jubilee lines came in second and third place with 3083 and 3087 reported thefts, respectively.

How to protect yourself from theft on trains

Most thieves will strike when their victims are distracted, so the best method to keep your phone and other belongings safe is to be aware of your surroundings and keep your valuable belongings hidden when you are not using them.

Mobile phones contain all kinds of valuable personal information that can be used by thieves to steal money or potentially your identity.

So, before you become a victim, there are steps you can take such as using strong passwords and using two-factor authentication to prevent thieves from accessing anything valuable if they do get their hands on your phone.

• Do not store photos of official ID on your phone whether in photo albums or in messages. Thieves who can unlock your phone could then use pictures of your documents to steal your identity or even access bank accounts.
  If you have to have this information on your Apple device, make the most of Face ID lock in iOS 18, so that you're asked for biometric authentication whenever any app is launched whether photos, WhatsApp, social media etc. If you’re on an older phone with Touch ID, you can use that instead.
  Here’s how to do it: Long-press on an app icon to bring up the app menu. Tap Require Face ID to lock the app with Face ID. The following pop-up menu will ask you to confirm by again tapping Require Face ID.

• If the phone is locked, criminals remove your Sim card and put it in another device enabling them to receive messages, including two-factor authentication codes and password resets, send messages and make calls posing as the phone owner.
  To protect your SIM card or eSIM from others using it for phone calls or mobile data, you can use a SIM PIN. Then every time you restart your device or remove the SIM card, your SIM card or eSIM will be locked automatically and you’ll see “Locked SIM” in the status bar.

Can I make an insurance claim after a theft on a train?

If you are a victim of theft on a train, you may be able to make an insurance claim.

Some insurers offer personal possession cover with home contents policies, and this can cover certain belongings when you take them out of the home.

If you have a packaged bank account, you may have gadget insurance as a value-added benefit, so check your policy as you might already be protected – so long as you registered your device in advance.

If you are on holiday in the UK when the theft on a train occurs, your travel insurance policy might offer the protection you need.

Most policies with added gadget cover will cover your essential electronics, such as phones, laptops, and tablets, while a a standard policy will cover other valuables if they are stolen.

Gadget Insurance is designed to protect your gadgets no matter where you take them and is an affordable option if you do not have cover for electronics on your home or travel insurance policies.

Bear in mind that only devices purchased as new from a manufacturer, network provider or other high street or online store will be covered. Refurbished gadgets or those bought from outlet or similar stores are not eligible for inclusion on the policy.

Advice from our expert:

Kara Gammell, MoneySuperMarket Home Insurance expert, says:

"When it comes to making an insurance claim for a theft on a train or anywhere away from home, it’s crucial to do your sums in advance

Your standard home contents insurance policy excess applies and could exceed the value of your claim. In this case, you may want to consider standalone gadget cover, which can cost just a few pounds a month and will not push up future contents insurance premiums after you make a claim.

Before you purchase gadget insurance, always check the single article limit as this is the amount you can claim up to for an individual item. With the cost of an iPhone 15 Pro Max now £999, you could easily exceed the limit and find yourself uninsured.

If you have been the victim of theft, and you are looking to make an insurance claim, you will need to notify the police and get a crime reference number as soon as possible – ideally in 24 hours.

Then submit your claim to your insurer. If you have proof of purchase or receipts for any stolen items, be sure to include these with your claim as it can help speed up the process."

Notes:

British Transport Police data excludes cases of theft on the underground reported to other police authorities.

TFL underground passenger figures have also risen over the period by 97% 2021 - 597,992,000 2024 - 1,180,800,000