THIS is the chilling moment a model chases down a brazen thief who snatched her phone in broad daylight.
Australian fashion model and influencer Emma Van Der Hoek was targeted while walking alone on a pavement in Highbury, North London on Tuesday.
Instagram / emmavanderhoek_Model Emma Van Der Hoek shared footage of her phone being nicked[/caption]
Instagram / emmavanderhoek_She tried to chases down the brazen thief but was unable to catch them[/caption]
Instagram / emmavanderhoek_The fashionista and influencer has pleaded with the thieves to return her mobile[/caption]
Instagram / emmavanderhoek_She blasted people who said it was her fault saying they were ‘victim-blaming’[/caption]
The star shared footage of the terrifying moment her phone was snatched straight from her hand online, stating she’d also had a phone stolen earlier this year.
“This is the second time in three months this has happened – all within my so-called ‘safe’ neighbourhood,” an exasperated Emma wrote on Instagram
The shocking clip shows Emma looking at her phone as she strolls along a quiet street just ten minutes from Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.
Looking at her phone, wearing a pair of tracksuits and a long sleeve spotted top, she’s unaware that one of her most prized possession is about to be nabbed.
Without warning, a masked man dressed head-to-toe in black dashes up and snatches the phone in one slick movement.
Emma bravley darts after the attacker but the thief vanishes around the corner.
Another man, also dressed in black, appears moments later and follows after them.
She shared the footage on TikTok but was shocked to find that many people were blaming her for the traumatic event.
Emma found that people were blaming her for the theft rather than the criminal.
She wrote: “The amount of victim-blaming comments is actually insane.
“People have got so used to theft in London that they’ve started blaming the victims instead of holding criminals accountable.”
In a desperate attempt to get her phone back, the influencer writes directly to the thieves themselves.
She added: “If you are one of the boys that stole my phone, return it and I’ll delete the video.”
She urged anyone with information to message her directly.
Fans of Emma were quick to take to the comments to express their horror at the event but gratitude that she was unscathed.
One wrote: “Glad you’re safe sis.”
Another added: “So sorry to hear this darling, I hope you can get it back.”
A third responded: “So scary! I’m sorry this keeps happening to you.”
The robbery is part of a growing epidemic of mobile phone thefts sweeping the capital.
Data obtained by The Sun reveals the worst hit areas across Greater London, with one popular tourist hotspot hit by as many as 37 mobile thefts daily on average.
The Metropolitan Police has warned that gangs are pocketing millions, with phone thefts “on an industrial scale”.
Almost 80,000 handsets were stolen last year – that’s up by about 16,000 on 2023.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, tourist hotspots tend to rank highest, which is especially worrying for anyone planning on venturing into the capital over the summer.
However, hundreds of incidents were reported in typically residential areas up and down Greater London, too.
The Met Police told The Sun that criminals behind the problem are making millions by being able to easily sell on stolen devices either here or abroad.
“We are seeing phone thefts on an industrial scale,” a Met Police spokesperson told The Sun.
“In response, we have increased patrols in hotspot areas while officers are using phone-tracking data and intelligence to pursue those responsible.
“By intensifying our efforts, we’re catching more perpetrators and protecting people from having their phones stolen in the capital.
“The Met is also working with other agencies and government to tackle the organised criminality driving this trade and calling on tech companies to make stolen phones unusable.
“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.”
How to protect your phone from thieves
PHONE ‘snatch thefts’ are soaring, with more than 1,000 stolen in London every week.
Here are some tips to protect your phone from thieves.
Stay aware when walking and avoid using your phone near roads or in public if possible.
Hold your phone firmly and consider using a strap or lanyard.
Keep your phone out of sight in risky areas or crowded spots.
Secure your device with a strong passcode or biometric lock.
Turn on location tracking features in case it’s stolen.
Back up important data regularly to avoid losing it.
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