A holidaying American athlete turned the tables on a London phone thief, using her sprint training to chase him down and retrieve her stolen mobile.
Thief Targets the Wrong Tourist
Elizabeth Lopez Aguilar, a 24-year-old from Texas, was filming a TikTok video while walking in London's West End. She was in the city celebrating her boyfriend's birthday and heading to a theatre show when a man suddenly snatched the phone from her hand. Elizabeth initially thought it was a prank by her partner, but quickly realised the theft was real.
"I was shocked but immediately kicked into full gear," Elizabeth said. The thief had unwittingly targeted an amateur track and triathlon athlete who specialises in sprinting and long-distance running. "I genuinely think the thief had no idea who he was messing with," she added. "I immediately went into running mode and wouldn't stop until the guy was caught."
The Chase and Recovery
Elizabeth and her boyfriend both gave chase. The athlete's speed allowed her to quickly close the gap. "We caught him quickly after I was able to grab his arm and take the phone back," she recounted. The pair cornered the man, who did not fight back and left immediately once the phone was recovered. They did not pursue further legal action or call the police following the swift retrieval of the device.
A lifelong sports enthusiast, Elizabeth has spent two years intensifying her training, competing in sprint and Olympic-distance triathlons and is currently preparing for an Ironman event.
London's Phone Theft Epidemic
This incident highlights a significant issue in the capital. According to the latest figures from the Metropolitan Police, 117,211 phones were reported stolen in London during 2024. This marks a sharp rise from the 91,481 thefts recorded in 2019, representing an increase of 25%. Alarmingly, only around 1% of these cases led to charges or convictions.
Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has acknowledged London has a problem with mobile phone thefts. However, he claimed that police have 'turned the corner' and are bringing figures down. "Phone theft is a big issue. We have turned the corner (on phone thefts)," Rowley told LBC. He cited increased footfall in the West End in December as a sign that Londoners felt safe, stating progress was being made.
Meanwhile, London Mayor Sadiq Khan has proposed increasing council tax for certain bands to raise extra funds for policing. The move could add more than £20 a year to the average Band D bill. City Hall said if approved, the plan would allow for a record investment in policing next year of £1.22 billion.
