Met Police – Be Switched On – Pub Washroom Panels

Mobile phone theft is increasing with a surge in ‘snatch thefts’ and a growing international resale market being primary drivers. Factors contributing to this include a high demand for stolen phones, often shipped abroad, and criminal tactics like disabling tracking features and exploiting weak security. London is a hotspot where the number of phone thefts tripled in the four years leading up to 2024, reaching over 80,000 in the past year (42% of all thefts reported in the UK). But phone thieves don’t just want your phone; they want access to your bank accounts, documents and identity.

The Metropolitan Police are running a ‘Be Switched On’ campaign urging the public to activate their phones anti-theft protection and be mindful of precautions they can take to minimise the risk of phone theft and to protect themselves from fraud should their phone be stolen.

The Washroom Panels are running in pubs located in mobile phone theft hotspots across central London. Pubs are relaxed social environments where people naturally lower their guard and can become more susceptible to theft. The Washroom posters are a timely reminder to remain vigilant to take further security steps, such as protecting your security information on your device, making a note of your phones IMEI number and reporting a phone theft as soon as possible.

By being aware of who’s around you when you’re using your phone in public, particularly when entering your PIN number or passcodes, and avoiding entering personal information in a public space, we can protect ourselves from fraud should we become victims of phone theft.

The activity is running throughout November and December in selected Central London pubs.