London Thieves Prefer iPhones to Android Devices

London thieves are showing a marked preference for iPhones over Android devices, with multiple reports of criminals returning or discarding Samsung phones after brief inspections. This trend emerged prominently in early 2025, amid a surge in mobile phone thefts across the city, where the Metropolitan Police recorded 117,211 incidents in 2024 alone.

In one notable case from January, a 32-year-old Londoner named Sam was walking near a Royal Mail depot in south London when eight men confronted him, taking his phone, camera, and beanie hat under threat of violence. As the group fled down Old Kent Road, one thief paused, examined the device, and handed back the Samsung phone. "Don't want no Samsung," the man said, according to Sam's account. Similar experiences have been shared by other Android users. Mark, another victim, had his Samsung Galaxy snatched from his pocket by a thief on an e-bike. Moments later, the perpetrator stopped, looked at the phone, and tossed it onto the ground before riding away. Mark retrieved the device unharmed. A third incident involved Simon, who encountered a suspicious stranger in the city; the man lost interest upon seeing Simon's phone, later...