This City’s iPhone Users Are On The Radar, Thieves Are Getting Picky When It Comes To Smartphones

London’s long-running issue with mobile phone snatching has taken an unexpected turn, revealing a pattern that is as bizarre as it is consistent. Thieves across the city are getting unusually selective, and it is iPhone owners who are feeling the sting. The trend, commonly labelled as Apple picking, has never felt more literal. A growing number of victims report that criminals are not just prioritising iPhones but actively rejecting Android phones, sometimes in blunt and almost comical ways.

The targeting is intentional and noticeable. Victims say thieves now slow down, assess the device in someone’s hand and make their choice in seconds. If it is an iPhone, it is fair game. If it is not, many criminals are beginning to simply move on. In some cases, they are discarding Android phones right after grabbing them. As one witness told London Centric, the selectiveness is becoming hard to ignore.

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Mark, one such Londoner, says he is still in disbelief after an encounter with an e-bike rider who tried to snatch his device. “I saw him stop, look at my phone, then throw it on the floor,” Mark said. “He cycled off, and I retrieved my phone.” His device survived, though his pride did not. “If anything, I feel a bit rejected. My poor phone.”

For others, the encounters have been more violent. Sam recalls being attacked by a group of eight near a Royal Mail depot earlier this year. After taking his belongings, one of the thieves surprisingly turned back. “Don’t want no Samsung,” the attacker reportedly said while returning Sam’s phone. The reasoning behind the choice is simple. iPhones hold far higher resale value on the secondary market, and criminals looking for a quick turnaround know which devices will give them a better return.

Android users have begun noticing the pattern, and some are reacting with a strange sense of relief. Simon, another local, described an incident that initially seemed harmless. A man approached him asking if he had Spotify. Thinking it was a musician promoting his work, Simon took out his Samsung Galaxy. The stranger immediately walked away, leaving Simon confused until he realised he had likely avoided a mugging entirely.

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Police forces in the city do not track theft data by device type, but the anecdotal evidence points to a clear reality. In London’s growing wave of street theft, carrying an iPhone puts you at far higher risk. Android owners, meanwhile, appear to be slipping under the radar, intentionally or not. The gap in value between devices is shaping criminal behaviour in ways no one quite expected.