Strictly star has phone snatched by masked biker in London

11 June 2024, 15:33

The former tennis player, 57, described the incident as “terrifying”
The former tennis player, 57, described the incident as “terrifying”. Picture: Alamy

By Will Conroy

Strictly Come Dancing star Annabel Croft had her phone stolen in broad daylight by a masked man on a bike in the centre of London.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The former tennis player, 57, described the incident as “terrifying” but explained that the thief dropped the phone meaning she could retrieve it.

This was typical of recent incidents in the capital involving thieves acting in pairs and using e-bikes or mopeds to make a quick getaway from the scene.

Two incidents had recently been caught on camera in as many days while the Metropolitan Police released figures last year that on average almost 250 phones a day were stolen in 2022.

Annabel shared on Instagram how her phone had been stolen “clean out of her hands” while she was waiting for a taxi outside King’s Cross station.

Annabel was mugged while waiting outside Kings Cross station
Annabel was mugged while waiting outside Kings Cross station. Picture: Alamy

She said: “I just wanted to warn people who are on their own in London. I just got mugged waiting for a taxi outside King's Cross St Pancras.

“The man was riding a bike and wearing a black balaclava. He rode straight at me and took my phone clean out of my hands.

“He rode away with it but luckily dropped my phone so I got it back. Terrifying!

“On a positive note, there are some lovely people out there. Luckily a lovely gentleman witnessed it and came over to help me. Thank you to whoever you are.”

Read more: Moment officer rams phone thief off e-bike after 24 phones stolen in London in just one hour

Read more: We’re in the midst of a phone theft epidemic - I fell victim, and I don’t trust the Met to sort it out

These gangs have been targeting children, mothers and commuters with figures showing that a mobile phone is reported as stolen in London every six minutes.

There were almost 91,000 phones snatched from Londoners in 2022 and just two per cent of the stolen devices recovered.

Reports show that this type of crime is on the rise nationally but it is particularly prominent in the capital with 52 per cent of mobile thefts in England and Wales between 2019 and 2023 being reported to the Met Police.

Beware of Phone Snatchers warning by Metropolitan Police
Beware of Phone Snatchers warning by Metropolitan Police. Picture: Alamy

This comes after Love Island star Anna-May Robey revealed that thieves stole her phone in a similar attack and “rinsed her bank accounts”.

She said on social media: “Walking to a shoot on Monday, my phone was snatched out of my hand by a cyclist.

“The cyclist approached me from behind so I was unaware and completely oblivious. The phone was unlocked so the guy had access to everything.

“He was able to change my Apple ID straight away so I couldn't track the phone or access any of my information on any other devices.

Anna-May Robey had her phone snatched in a similar way to the Strictly star
Anna-May Robey had her phone snatched in a similar way to the Strictly star. Picture: Alamy

“I know it's easy to replace a mobile phone, but my whole life is on there - Apple Pay, personal information, images, work etc.

“By the time I managed to contact a bank to cancel my cards and Apple Pay, it was too late.

“I found out all accounts had been rinsed. They had not only stolen my phone but spent thousands of pounds, down to my last penny, savings and credit cards were maxed. Leaving me with absolutely NOTHING.”

Londoner Alex Fletcher warned others of the prevalence of phone thefts, adding: "I’ve had my phone pinched in central London twice now.

"Both times they chucked back on the floor straight away because it wasn’t an iPhone."

Last month a video circulated of a cyclist riding up to a group of people standing in London's West End before snatching a phone out of a young woman's hands and speeding off.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Newcombe Road, Coventry.

Double Coventry stabbing kills one and leaves another with 'facial injuries'

Streeting suggests Labour discontent is ‘manufactured rebellion’ as he refuses to confirm disability benefits U-turn

Streeting suggests Labour discontent is ‘manufactured rebellion’ as he refuses to confirm disability benefits U-turn

Alice da Silva Aguiar was one of the three children killed.

Commemorative playground to be built in primary school in honour of Southport victims

Foreign Office staff enjoyed the Nassau Yacht Club in Barbados, in January 2023, spending £920.

Civil servants splurge on Barbados yacht club trip with taxpayer-backed credit card

Met Police sued after reinstating 999 call handler who mock Sarah Everard and called rape victim a ‘slut’

Met Police sued after reinstating 999 call handler who 'mocked Sarah Everard' and called rape victim a ‘slut’

At least 50 dead after fire rips through nightclub in North Macedonia

At least 50 dead after fire rips through nightclub in North Macedonia

FILE - Britain's Prince Harry leaves after attending an Invictus Games Foundation 10th Anniversary Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral in London, Wednesday, May 8, 2024.

Bombshell US court ruling orders Prince Harry's visa application files be made public by Tuesday

This image made from video by NASA shows astronauts waving after the SpaceX capsule docked with the International Space Station, Sunday, March 16, 2025. Top row from left: Nick Hague, Alexander Gorbunov, Suni Williams, Alexei Ovchinin.

Over the moon: SpaceX capsule docks with ISS as stranded NASA astronauts welcome replacement crew

F1 Grand Prix Of Australia

Lando Norris wins a wet Australian Grand Prix despite last minute charge from Max Verstappen

Disabled people to be given right to try working without risk of losing benefits in welfare reforms.

Disabled people to be given 'right to try' work without risk of losing benefits

Britain's Prince William, Patron of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), and Kate, the Princess of Wales, Patron of the Rugby Football Union (RFU), pose for a photo with Leif Thobroe

Royal split: William and Kate cheer on rival sides at Wales take on England in Six Nations clash

Wes Streeting MP - Secretary of State for Health and Social Care - in Downing Street 12th March 2025 - the day before NHS England was abolished.

Scrapping NHS England is ‘beginning, not the end’ says Streeting, vowing to cut hundreds of quangos

A view of the pollution caused by garbage and various wastes following the thousands of Palestinians displaced under the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel have returned to the northern Gaza Strip in Jabalia, Gaza on March 13, 2025.

US rejects Hamas’s ‘entirely impractical’ demands to implement ceasefire as talks reach impasse

Antoine Dupont and Gregory Alldritt of France lift the Six Nations Trophy after their team's victory during the Guinness Six Nations 2025 match between France and Scotland at Stade de France

France win Six Nations after beating Scotland, shattering England title hopes

The US has launched large strikes in Yemen as Donald Trump promised "overwhelming lethal force" until the Houthis cease attacks on shipping.

US launches strikes on Yemen as Trump promises 'overwhelming lethal force' against Houthis

Rich people are getting married at a way higher rate than those with lower incomes as the ‘marriage gap’ between rich and poor hits a record 51%.

'Only rich people are getting married', new research suggests, as ‘marriage gap’ widens