Key Points:
- Pregnant woman, in her 30s, attacked outside East Ham Underground station on Tuesday.
- Phone stolen during robbery; woman punched in the stomach.
- British Transport Police arrested a 17-year-old boy after urgent enquiries.
- Officers tracked the victim’s phone to a residential address.
- London labelled Europe’s phone snatch capital with 70,137 devices stolen last year.
- £50 million annual trade in stolen handsets across London.
- Notorious phone thief Sonny Stringer jailed last year after stealing 24 phones in one morning.
A pregnant woman was punched in the stomach during a robbery outside East Ham Underground station, prompting a swift police investigation that led to the arrest of a teenage suspect.
British Transport Police (BTP) said the incident occurred around 2pm on Tuesday. Despite a delay in the report reaching authorities, officers launched urgent enquiries and tracked the stolen device to an address, where a 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of robbery.
What happened during the robbery outside East Ham station?
Officers responded to reports that a woman in her 30s had been robbed outside East Ham Underground station. BTP confirmed that the woman, who is pregnant, was punched in the stomach by the offender before her phone was taken.
In a statement, the force said: “Officers carried out urgent enquiries and met the victim before tracking the phone to a residential address. Officers attended, and a teenage boy was arrested on suspicion of robbery.”
How did police locate the suspect so quickly?
Despite receiving the report approximately an hour after the attack, BTP detectives moved swiftly, reviewing CCTV footage and using tracking technology linked to the stolen phone. Their work led them to a residential address where the suspect was apprehended.
BTP wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “We are committed to making the network a hostile environment for these offenders.”
How serious is phone snatching in London?
London is currently recognised as the phone snatch capital of Europe. In 2023 alone, criminals stole 70,137 devices, averaging 192 phones per day, or one every seven-and-a-half minutes. The Metropolitan Police estimate the black-market trade in stolen handsets is worth around £50 million a year.
The growing issue of phone theft has pushed law enforcement agencies to adopt increasingly aggressive tactics to deter offenders.
Who was London’s most notorious phone thief?
Sonny Stringer, a 28-year-old criminal, gained notoriety after stealing 24 phones in a single morning. He was ultimately captured last year when City of London Police officers used an unmarked Volvo XC90 to knock him off his e-bike during a dramatic chase through the West End. Stringer was subsequently jailed for his crimes.
