Nearly 1 in 3 people in the UK have had their phone snatched: study
A new research study from UK fintech startup Nuke From Orbit shows a sharp rise in smartphone theft across the country and the growing impact on how people use their devices.
The study, which surveyed 1,000 UK adults (18 years and above), found that 29% have now experienced phone theft, up from 17% just a year ago.
The surge is fuelling widespread anxiety and has started prompting consumers to scale back their use of mobile banking, email, social media and digital wallets.
67% of consumers say they are most concerned about unauthorised access to their bank cards or accounts, underlining the financial risks of losing a smartphone.
Despite this concern, 34% of users still rely on the same or similar PINs for multiple apps and to unlock their devices – a risky behaviour that continues to undermine security efforts, Nuke From Orbit said.
“The findings are deeply worrying,” said James O’Sullivan (CEO of Nuke From Orbit). “In the past 18 months, we’ve seen a perfect storm: thefts are rising, personal security is lacking, and users are stuck in risky habits. It’s unacceptable that nearly one in three people have had their phone stolen. The current solutions – and the police response – simply do not match the scale of the problem.”
Not all thefts are reported
The data shows that certain phone habits are also contributing to increased theft risk. Nearly half of respondents (47%) said they use their phones in public several times a day – a figure that rises to 71% among 18–25-year-olds, making them easy targets for opportunistic thieves.
This visibility, especially on public transport or in busy urban areas, significantly increases the likelihood of theft.
Yet many victims are reluctant to report the crime. The research shows that those who have not experienced phone theft are almost three times more likely to report it than those who have, indicating a breakdown in trust and expectations around police intervention.
Public opinion is divided on who should take responsibility for improving smartphone security. While 44% believe phone manufacturers should lead the charge, 30% say the onus is on users themselves.
Notably, the data shows that those who have never had their phone stolen are nearly three times more likely to report theft than those who have, suggesting that personal experience often leads to disillusionment.
