If you live in London, you’ll be well aware that phone snatching is plaguing the city.
Masked assailants on e-bikes and mopeds have been targeting city-dwellers across the metropolis, swiping their phones from their hands and leaving Londoners riddled with anxiety.
You’re not alone if you can’t step outside without clutching your phone so hard you fear it may snap. The stats are sinister. According to a study conducted by Gadgetsure, recent data has revealed that 56 per cent of people have reported a stolen or lost mobile phone, with a total of 136,520 phone thefts in the UK alone. The report was inspired by a BBC article, which found a 73 per cent rise in mobile phone thefts over the past five years.
One London-based pair of particularly cunning thieves stole 72 phones from early morning commuters in six weeks, while another single culprit stole 24 in a day. The Met Police reported that a phone is stolen every six minutes in London, while 90,864 phones, approximately 250 a day, were stolen in 2022.
There are a few preventive steps you can take to protect your data, such as using biometric authentication or enabling Find My Phone and the ‘Kill Switch’. But there are also products that may deter veiled muggers. Phone chains, crossbody bags, lanyards and elastic tethers allow the user to grip their possessions while walking down the street.
Not only do these accessories discourage thieves, but they help soothe anxiety when out and about. According to a 2018 study: “Thefts and robberies may be considered fully-fledged potentially traumatic events,” which “may initiate the development of or increase existing mental health problems, such as psychological distress, major depression, acute stress disorder, and post-traumatic stress symptoms.”
While we wait for the government to clamp down on phone theft in the city, it’s best to take precautions. Discover the best products to help prevent phone theft and shop our edit below
In the meantime stay alert - and for heaven’s sake, put your phone away.
Shop now
Ryaco Money Belt
Ryaco’s water-resistant money belt may look basic, yet it’s anything but. It’s made with blocking material that keeps your vital information secure and protects your cards and ID.
A rip-stop nylon structure ensures the most secure fit, while a soft mesh panel at the rear and pockets provide all you need for a failsafe money belt to see you through summer.
Buy now £10.70, Amazon
project-cb Cell Phone Lanyard
Suitable for all smartphone types, this crossbody lanyard is a godsend for nervous city dwellers. Ensure your phone is safe and sound with this accessory strapped firmly across your chest. Also suitable for cyclists and those prone to dropping their phones.
Buy now £18.99, Amazon
COCASES Phone Lanyard
You may get teased for having one, but you will have the last laugh as this lanyard can be the ultimate deterrent for phone snatchers. Attach the stretchy gadget to your trouser loops or handbag and ensure it never gets swiped.
Buy now £9.99, Amazon
Topologie 6.0MM Rope Strap
Topologie takes inspiration from rock climbing gear, creating handy, durable accessories for savvy urbanites. Clip the brand’s rope strap onto your phone for protection and feel at ease thanks to the sturdy construction, quick-release swivel carabiner and 6mm wide super-flexible woven design.
Buy now £25.00, END.
Etsy Beaded Phone Charm
Trends are cyclical, but phone charms are here to stay. Not only are they cute and kitsch, but they’re practical for security too. We can’t tell you how many times a phone charm has saved us from a new screen replacement following near-dropping incidents.
Buy now £9.59, Etsy
MoKo Secure Travel Money Belt
MoKo’s money belt is a best-seller for a reason. The pale pink accessory is flat yet firm, making it easy to tuck under clothes. The hidden pocket ensures your valuables are always safe, plus it’s lightweight and adjustable. Blocking materials also prevents hacker scanning.
Buy now £7.99, Amazon
Burga Assorted Dreams Colourful Beads Phone Charm
Burga has an array of textures and colour combinations to choose from. Our eye fell on the Assorted Dreams variation, which marries pearlescent beads with oceanic tones.
Buy now £18.95, Burga
UEEBAI Crossbody Lanyard Phone case for iPhone
Phone models available: iPhone 12-14
This brand on Amazon is giving you the chance to go all matchy-matchy with your phone’s accessories. There are 11 different colourways where the silicone cover comes alongside a cord in the same hue. From matcha green to the lavender pictured, there’s sure to be a shade to suit.
Buy now £8.99, Amazon
Aspinal of London Leather Phone Case
This case is an extended pocket where you can slip in your phone while also storing cards, cash and flat necessities. It has a hard-wearing leather construction with the brand’s name emblazoned on both sides.
Buy now £54.00, John Lewis
GEMSTRAP Crossbody Phone Lanyard/Chain
Available in a myriad of covetable colours, this chunky phone chain is trendy-led and functional in equal measure. Wear yours as a necklace or crossbody and know where your phone is at all times. Tired of the colour? Swap out the chains to match each and every outfit.
Buy now £24.25, Amazon
Bottega Veneta iPhone 13 Pro phone case on strap
Phone models available: iPhone 13 Pro
If you’re lucky enough to have this specific model of iPhone, you can dress up your device in the signature Bottega Veneta Intrecciato weave. The motif is one you’ll find across the Italian fashion house’s bags and accessories but here it is made from silicone rather than leather to give your phone bumper security.
Buy now £200.00, MyTheresa
Skinnydip Happy Daisy Beaded Strap
Smileys are here to stay. The iconic, beaming yellow motif is an instant way to brighten up your day. Skinnydip’s phone chain merges smiling faces with sweet florals. Fasten yours to your phone and be on your merry way.
Buy now £12.00, Skinnydip
Rains Box Bag Micro
This futuristic micro bag courtesy of Rains is a stylish yet practical crossbody for all your wavy rave essentials. A descaled version of the brand’s Rains larger bags, this petite offering is ideal for festival-goers, city-dwellers and more.
Buy now £65.00, Rains
Anya Hindmarch Eyes Essentials Cross-body
Anya Hindmarch’s cult Eyes series continues with this crossbody that boasts two pockets for those all-important summer must-haves: sunglasses and ‘essentials’. Full of playful character, it’s made of lightweight and hardwearing nylon with gold hardware offering a chic contrast. Look no further for your summer romance.
Buy now £325.00, Anya Hindmarch
Casetify Rope Cross-body Strap
Phone models available: Apple, Samsung and Google across every model
One of the most popular phone case brands on the market, the different designs, patterns, prints and branding available at Casetify are overwhelming. There really are too many to choose from. But once you have finally selected the one to suit, you can also add this rope attachment to your basket that is affixed through a strap card (£9) that sits in the case. There are an array of colours as well as chains and more utilitarian designs.
Buy now £57.00, Casetify
Colourful Crossbody Strap
Suitable for the iPhone 11, 12, 13, and Pro Max, these colourful lanyards are playful yet practical. Select the iPhone model and your colour of choice and step out in confidence this summer.
Buy now £24.30, Etsy
PuYu Zhe Case Compatible
Phone models available: iPhone 6 to 14
The utilitarian trend is enduring in the fashion space and this phone case will fit seamlessly with that aesthetic with its carabiner-like fastenings and all-black minimalistic design. That being said, if you want to give your phone a pop of colour, it’s available in bold red, pink and mint green as well as more muted hues of dark green and blue too.
Buy now £11.98, Amazon
AHABIPERS Phone Lanyard
Phone models available: All
This is another very affordable place to purchase the cord for your rope with a clear case included. There’s an array of patterns to choose from but to ensure its longevity, we recommend choosing one of the darker shades to disguise the inevitable wear and tear.
Buy now £9.97, Amazon
Adidas By Stella McCartney Bum Bag
As part of Adidas’ enduring collaboration with fashion designer Stella McCartney, this bum bag is available in a neutral black hue, however, the unmissable orange shade has caught our attention so you will always be able to locate it.
Buy now £70.00, Adidas
