Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Purple lines have been painted on Oxford Street. Here’s why

Oxford Street shop paints phone theft warnings onto street
  • Currys, the UK's largest electrical retailer, has launched a 'mind the grab' campaign in London to combat the surge in phone snatching.
  • The initiative involves painting purple lines on Oxford Street pavements, advising shoppers to step away from the kerb and keep their mobile phones hidden.
  • This campaign, a collaboration with police and Westminster Council, addresses the rising issue of phone theft, often by criminals on mopeds or e-bikes.
  • Data reveals a significant problem, with 94 phones stolen daily last year across the UK, and 34,203 thefts recorded in Westminster in 2024.
  • Currys is also training staff to support victims and provide safety advice to customers.
In full

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in