Moment unsuspecting builder has phone snatched from his hands by brazen e-bike riding thief in Hyde Park

This is the moment a bewildered construction worker had his phone snatched by an e-bike rider in one of Londons most affluent areas.

The capitals phone theft epidemic claimed the builder as its latest victim on Park Lane, just a stones throw from the £1,345-a-night Dorchester Hotel.

CCTV captured a nearly identical crime in July, also opposite Hyde Park, when another unsuspecting man had his mobile snatched in broad daylight by a crook in all black.

The hi-vis and hard hat-wearing worker was walking through Mayfair with a colleague when the brazen thief, wearing all black, mounted the kerb and made off with his spoils.

Though the victim tried to chase after the thief, he was no match for the quick acceleration of the electric vehicle.

This is the moment a bewildered construction worker had his phone snatched by an e-bike rider in Mayfair

The hi-vis and hard hat-wearing worker was walking opposite Hyde Park with a colleague when the brazen thief, wearing all black, mounted the kerb and made off with his spoils

CCTV shows the builder return into frame shortly after abandoning his chase of the electric vehicle on Friday

As the CCTV continues, we see the builder return into frame shortly after abandoning his chase opposite Hyde Park on Friday.

The theft comes amid an epidemic of similar crimes where electric bike riding crooks clad all in black target pedestrians holding their phones.

The Met Police have been contacted for comment on the latest incident.

Reacting to the shocking footage, one Londoner commented: They have to do something about those bikes.

Interactive map reveals London's mobile phone theft hospots

Another added on social media: I hate these bike thieves. So cowardly and nasty.

Get a phone strap or dont get your phone out, someone else suggested.

These a***holes are making my blood boil.

A man had his phone stolen at the same spot on July 29, also by a man in all black riding the same style of bike - which resembles a dirt bike.

Police said then: We understand the impact that mobile phone theft can have on victims – its an invasive and sometimes violent crime - and were committed to protecting Londoners and tackling this issue as we make the capital safer.

Met officers are targeting resources to hotspot areas, such as Westminster, Lambeth and Newham, with increased patrols and plain clothes officers which deter criminals and make officers more visibly available to members of the community.

We continue to use data and technology to build intelligence and track stolen phones to target offenders as we fight community crime.

CCTV captured a nearly identical crime in July, also opposite Hyde Park, when another unsuspecting man had his mobile snatched in broad daylight by a crook in all black

They also said police are working with phone companies to make it more difficult for phones to be reused and sold on.

We encourage people to report as soon as they can whenever they have been a victim of mobile phone theft, so officers can attend the scene and investigate swiftly, they added.

Another victim of London's phone theft epidemic: Moment thief on an e-bike swipes mobile from woman

Nearly 52,000 devices were stolen in the capital in 2023, with the City of Westminster the worst-hit borough counting 18,863 reports.

Camden was the second worst affected, with 4,806 incidents, followed by Southwark (4,376), Hackney (2,761), Newham (2,585), Lambeth (2,394) and Islington (2,117). In London as a whole more than 52,000 phones were stolen last year.

Figures show 165,933 mobile phone thefts were reported to the Metropolitan Police between January 1, 2019 and December 31 last year - making up 52 per cent of the total in England and Wales.

Phone thefts rose by 20 per cent last year across England and Wales as a whole, according to figures released after a freedom of information request by The Times.

Police forces recorded 316,683 incidents between January 1, 2019 and December 31 last year, although the total will be higher because six forces failed to respond to the request and three refused to.

How to protect your mobile from e-bike i-jackers

Criminals often use bikes and mopeds to snatch mobile phones from people, particularly at busy locations such as outside stations, shopping centres or concert venues. Often victims are approached from behind while talking or texting on phones. Criminals on mopeds or bicycles may mount the pavement to grab the phone or snatch it from the road. Sometimes when its a moped, a pillion passenger will snatch it.

While most thefts happen between six and ten at night, criminals operate during the day too, so always look out for whats going on around you.

The Metropolitan Police has urged people to follow these steps to protect your phone:

Be aware of your surroundings

If you need to call or use your phone on the street, look out for anyone on a bike or a moped near you. Look up, look out
Make it quick so you dont become distracted
Dont text while youre walking – you wont notice whats going on around you
If thats not possible, stand away from the roadside, close to a building or wall, so no one can come up behind you
Going hands-free can prevent a thief from snatching your phone out of your hand

Use security features on your phone

You must switch on your phones security features to protect your phone
Use the keypad lock so that thieves cannot immediately access your phone, or use the biometric authentication if your phone has it (fingerprint or facial recognition)
Your phone may have other security features you can use – these could allow you to wipe data, lock your handset, or prevent a thief from restoring a phone to its factory settings from another internet device
Consider installing an anti-theft app. These can be an effective way of helping police trace your phone and identify the thief

Know how to identify your phone if its stolen

Every phone has an IMEI number which helps police and insurance companies to identify it if its stolen. UK network operators can also stop a stolen phone from working across their networks with its IMEI
Find your IMEI number by dialling *#06# from your phone and keep a written note of it; if the phone is stolen, report the number to your mobile provider to stop it being used
Register your valuables on an accredited property database.

Never confront a thief or risk your own safety for the sake of your mobile

Source: The Metropolitan Police