Overview
- Elizabeth Lopez Aguilar, 24, had her phone taken while filming by the London Eye and, with her boyfriend, chased the thief and recovered it within minutes.
- She did not call the police or pursue charges after retrieving the device, and no arrest was reported.
- Metropolitan Police figures show roughly 116,000–117,000 mobile phones were stolen in London in 2024, with only about 1% of cases resulting in charges or convictions.
- Mayor Sadiq Khan has outlined a draft budget to raise council tax to fund policing measures, a plan that requires approval from the London Assembly.
- Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley acknowledges phone theft is a major issue but says the force has begun to reduce the problem.