Shocking CCTV footage has captured the moment Australian model Emma Van Der Hoek bravely chased a masked thief who snatched her phone in broad daylight, marking the second time she has been targeted in just three months.
The fashion influencer was walking alone on a quiet street in Highbury, North London, just ten minutes from Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium on Tuesday when the brazen attack occurred.
Security footage shows Emma looking at her phone whilst wearing tracksuit bottoms and a long-sleeved spotted top, unaware she was about to become the latest victim of London’s phone theft epidemic.
Without warning, a masked figure dressed head-to-toe in black sprinted up behind her and snatched the device from her hand in one swift movement before fleeing around a corner.
Emma immediately gave chase, but the thief had already vanished. Moments later, another man dressed in black appeared and followed in the same direction, though his connection to the incident remains unclear.
“This is the second time in three months this has happened – all within my so-called ‘safe’ neighbourhood,” an exasperated Emma wrote on Instagram, revealing she had previously been targeted at her local pub.
The model, who shared the footage on TikTok where it has been viewed nearly 500,000 times, was shocked to find many people blaming her rather than the criminal.
“The amount of victim-blaming comments is actually insane,” she wrote. “People have got so used to theft in London that they’ve started blaming the victims instead of holding criminals accountable.”
In a desperate plea to the thieves, Emma added: “If you are one of the boys that stole my phone, return it and I’ll delete the video.”
The robbery exemplifies a growing crisis gripping the capital, with Metropolitan Police data revealing almost 80,000 handsets were stolen last year – up approximately 16,000 on 2023 figures.
We are seeing phone thefts on an industrial scale,” a Met Police spokesperson told The Sun. “Criminals behind the problem are making millions by being able to easily sell on stolen devices either here or abroad.”
The statistics paint an alarming picture. According to police data, 117,211 phones were reported stolen in 2024, compared to 115,261 in 2023 and 90,810 in 2022. In the first three months of 2025 alone, 27,167 phones have already been reported stolen.
Tourist hotspots are particularly vulnerable, with one area experiencing as many as 37 mobile thefts daily on average. However, residential neighbourhoods across Greater London are also seeing hundreds of incidents.
Emma’s experience resonated with her followers, with many expressing horror at the brazen daylight attack whilst expressing relief she was unharmed.
“Glad you’re safe sis,” one supporter wrote, whilst another added: “So sorry to hear this darling, I hope you can get it back.”
A third commented: “So scary! I’m sorry this keeps happening to you.”
The model’s frustration was palpable as she described feeling “emotionally exhausted” from the repeated targeting. It’s reached a point where I can’t even walk two minutes down the street without looking over my shoulder,” she shared.
Phone snatching has become a £50million underworld industry, with most devices flogged or disassembled for parts in China, according to Metropolitan Police intelligence.
Criminals increasingly use mopeds and electric bikes to grab devices before speeding away. Last year, one prolific thief was jailed after stealing 24 phones in a single morning.
Action Fraud reports that over £7,000 daily is fraudulently obtained from victims following phone thefts, with criminals accessing banking, cryptocurrency and credit applications installed on devices.
In response to the crisis, the Met has increased patrols in hotspot areas whilst using phone-tracking data and intelligence to pursue perpetrators.
City of London Police launched Operation Swipe in January 2025, increasing visibility in the Square Mile and using CCTV monitoring to “deter, detect, apprehend and prevent phone snatching.” Early results show a 30 per cent reduction in thefts compared to 2024.
The government’s Crime and Policing Bill, currently progressing through Parliament, includes provisions allowing police to enter premises without a warrant to search for stolen goods located using GPS tracking.
Home Secretary hosted a mobile phone theft summit in February to drive collective action against the criminality, bringing together police leaders, the National Crime Agency, the Mayor of London and tech companies.
The Met spokesperson emphasised the importance of swift reporting: “We are reminding victims to report their phone as stolen as soon as possible to maximise the chance of catching the perpetrator. Too often thefts are reported hours or days later.”
Experts advise Londoners to remain vigilant, avoid using phones whilst walking alone, and ensure devices have tracking enabled and are backed up regularly.
Emma’s ordeal serves as a stark reminder that no neighbourhood is immune from this growing threat sweeping the capital.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
