Australian tourists are being warned about rising phone theft in the UK

Former Australian federal treasurer Joe Hockey has fallen victim to a growing crime wave in the UK, sparking a warning for Aussie travellers.

Jetsetters planning a trip to the UK are being warned to be on high alert as phone snatching crime soars to heightened levels.

Grabbing people’s expensive smartphones from their hands, bags and jackets in both broad daylight and at night has resulted in one of Britain’s biggest crime waves sweeping the country this year.

Victims are being targeted on London’s popular Tube network while others have had their phones stolen while simply walking down the street.

Latest figures on ‘snatch theft’ showed an estimated 78,000 people had phones or bags stolen on UK streets in the past year – an increase of 150 per cent.

The UK’s Met Police have been ramping up their intelligence services to track stolen devices however it has a long way to go – it resulted in just 750 stolen phones being retrieved between January and June this year.

Signs warning people about phone crime can be seen plastered across London’s high-traffic areas including Oxford Street’s shopping strip.

“Beware of phone thieves on bicycles” read the signs with commuters constantly given warnings about thieving at Tube and train stations.

Former Australian federal treasurer Joe Hockey, 59, fell victim to criminals last week when he was walking through Leicester Square in central London about 2pm and had his iPhone 15 stolen from the outside pocket of his overcoat.

Former federal treasurer Joe Hockey. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman.

He said the thieves tripped the person he was walking with and when he went to help her they seized the moment, grabbing the phone from his pocket.

“I was pretty angry,” Mr Hockey told News Corp.

“It’s confronting because you don’t realise how much you have on your phone.

“I went to the Apple Store (in London) and the woman serving us said I was the sixth person who had my phone stolen that day that she had dealt with”.

Met Police Commander Owain Richards described phone theft as “invasive and sometimes violent crime” and said police were focused on combating petty theft.

“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,” he said.

Mr Hockey also issued a warning to travellers planning on visiting the UK soon – be extra cautious.

“Have your phone attached to your bag or your body and don’t have it on open display and any public spaces including the Tube,” he said.

He tracked his stolen iPhone on the Find My IPhone app on his phone and reported it to police but to no avail.

Originally published as Australian tourists are being warned about rising phone theft in the UK