The Met has launched a campaign to encourage Londoners to take simple steps to protect their devices and finances.

The Met revealed that its officers have dealt with a number of cases of organised gangs taking control of a victim's finances after getting access to their mobile banking and other financial apps – clearing accounts, taking out loans and using payment apps.

The police service says it is continuing to focus on tackling phone theft across London with increased patrols in hotspot areas and better use of technology to identify perpetrators. A recent two-week focus on prolific offenders resulted in 292 arrests across London.

Kush Chaudary is backing the Met's campaign after his phone was stolen by a group of men outside a bar in Soho in the early hours of 9 September 2023. The group struck up conversation with the victim and waited for him to unlock his phone before taking it.

Within minutes they changed his passcode, transferred £5,000 from his crypto wallet, and stole several thousands more from his bank accounts.

They also took out fraudulent loans of £22,000 and later used Apple Pay to spend around £8,000 on designer clothes and electrical products.

Chaudary has spoken about his experience in a video released by the Met to raise awareness of the issue and encouraged others to check their device security to limit the impact of phone theft. 

Chaudary said: "With my phone unlocked, they targeted anything they could gain immediate access to including my bank and crypto accounts. They were even able to take a loan out in a matter of seconds, ready to spend as soon as the shops opened up.

"Seeing that unfold in front of my eyes was difficult. This was hard-earned savings I had that was being spent by strangers and I felt very exposed and vulnerable as I didn't know when it would stop."

The Met has shared three simple steps Londoners can take to protect their phone:

• Turn on 'Stolen Device' or 'Anti-Theft' protection features on your device
• Use strong separate passwords for high-value applications
• Watch out for people looking over you when you're on your phone

Detective Sergeant Isabella Grotto, from the Met's economic crime team, said: "The Met has stepped up its work to prevent and tackle phone theft in London – with targeted patrols and plain-clothed operations in hotspot areas and improved use of phone-tracking data and intelligence.

"By intensifying our efforts, we are catching more perpetrators, but we know it's still a serious problem and I encourage everyone to take these simple steps which could help prevent significant financial loss and fraud."

The gang involved in Chudary's theft were convicted and jailed following an investigation by the Met.

Further information on how to protect your phone is available on the Met Police website.