19.01.2026 16:04
Athlete Elizabeth Lopez Aguilar, who was on holiday in London, chased down a thief who stole her phone and retrieved it. Aguilar was attacked while filming a TikTok video in front of the London Eye. Competing in sprint and long-distance races, Aguilar was also training for an Ironman triathlon, which allowed her to catch the thief quickly.
A phone theft attempt in London unexpectedly backfired on the thief. Athlete Elizabeth Lopez Aguilar, who was in the UK capital for a holiday, chased down the thief who snatched her phone and retrieved it.
24-year-old Aguilar was attacked while filming a TikTok video in front of the London Eye. As she placed her phone a few meters in front of her and started talking, a person entered the frame, grabbed the phone, and quickly ran away. Those moments were captured second by second as the phone continued recording.
The Texas athlete had come to London to celebrate her boyfriend's birthday. The couple, who planned to watch a musical in the West End in the evening, were left in shock by the incident they experienced during the day.
However, the thief realized too late that he had targeted the wrong person. Competing in sprint and long-distance races, Aguilar is also an athlete training for the Ironman triathlon.
"I think he had no idea who he was dealing with," the young woman recounted her experience:
"At first, I thought it was a joke. But when I realized it was real, I started running without thinking. I didn't stop until I caught him."
Aguilar was accompanied by her boyfriend Abraham Tahtou. The couple quickly cornered the thief. Aguilar grabbed the man by the arm and took back her phone.
Since the thief did not resist and quickly fled the scene, the couple did not report the incident to the police. Aguilar said, "After getting the phone, the situation didn't escalate. That's why we didn't file a complaint."
This incident once again brought attention to the growing problem of phone theft in London. According to data released by the Metropolitan Police, over 116,000 mobile phones were stolen in London in 2024. This means an average of 320 phones per day, or 13 phones per hour.
Moreover, this number is the highest recorded to date. However, despite tens of thousands of cases, only 169 people have been prosecuted, and very few suspects have been punished.
Authorities have stated that the majority of victims are women, noting that phone theft has become a serious security issue not only for tourists but also for residents of London.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has proposed raising municipal taxes to combat rising crime. With the planned increase, the council's share per household will exceed £500 for the first time.
Experts argue that the problem cannot be solved solely through taxes. Campaigner Dr. Lawrence Newport warned that London is experiencing a "phone theft epidemic," stating:
"The majority of crimes are committed by a small group of offenders. Unless these individuals are caught and receive serious penalties, the problem will continue to grow."
The incident experienced by Elizabeth Aguilar stands out as one of the rare moments when a victim triumphed on the streets of London.