[angusb]

Yep, 10 years here and never seen it either. Maybe these people target more touristy areas. Author is a she btw :)

[notahacker]

The touristy areas thing is probably a big deal. I've also spent ~10 years in London, some of it in Zone 1 without witnessing any attempted street thefts or knowing of any friends being mugged. Approx 1 week in Athens: two, one targeting me (neither successful)

There might be a difference in street crime between London and Athens but it's not that big.

[te_chris]

It definitely happens. I live in N5 and my old flatmate had has phone taken from him right outside Arsenal tube station!

I've also been walking on the footpath on New North Road when two guys on scooter have sped past.

[agent008t]

Also in N5 and know a few people that have had their phones stolen this way.

[growlist]

I lived in Peckham for 1.5 years and was threatened three times, each time having to take evasive action. And that was in 2001. It's worse now.

[foldr]

How sure can you be that it's worse now if you haven't lived in Peckham since 2001? There doesn't seem to be any discernible upward trend:

http://www.ukcrimestats.com/Neighbourhood/Metropolitan_Polic...

The overall rate of violent crime in London is lower now that it was in 2001. And Peckham was a much rougher neighborhood in 2001 than it is now.

[zimpenfish]

20 years here (in this stint) and I've never seen it but I do tend to avoid crowded places (social anxiety) except when peak travelling.

I do know people who've been moped'd and mugged - never suffered either myself (although I apparently have a "resting hate scowl" according to my sister which scares people away.)

[lhnz]

My wife had her phone robbed from her in this way in Canonbury (N5) 2 years ago.

It was very scary for her since they went up onto the curb and pushed her onto the tarmack as they grabbed it. It happened at around 6am in the morning at most 20 metres from our flat which was on a quiet terrace of victorian houses.

It's not just touristy areas. It's probably easier for the motorbike thugs to operate in places which have relatively quiet roads that they can escape on. I suspect that if you live in a nice area, but close to some of the inner city ghettos you are most at risk. I've also seen it happen in and around the parks.