Three Masked Men Rob Delivery Van on The Grove
Reportedly thieves were targeting packages containing mobile phones
Packages left strewn on the pavement following the robbery. Picture: Tim Hicks
October 7, 2025
Police are investigating a robbery that took place in broad daylight on The Grove, Ealing this Tuesday (7 October). It is believed that the delivery van was targeted for its cargo of high-value mobile phones.
At approximately 10:00am, officers responded to reports of a robbery from a DPD vehicle by three masked men. The suspects are believed to have specifically sought packages containing newly released iPhones, suggesting prior knowledge of the packaging.
The Metropolitan Police have not yet made any arrests, and enquiries are ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact police on 101 quoting CAD 2069/07OCT, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
The robbery comes just after the Met announced the success of Operation Echosteep, its largest-ever crackdown on mobile phone theft. The operation dismantled a sophisticated international smuggling network responsible for exporting up to 40,000 stolen phones—many of them iPhones—from the UK to China and Hong Kong.
According to the Met, the gang behind the operation accounted for 40% of all mobile phones stolen in London last year. Devices were snatched by street-level thieves, often riding electric bikes, and quickly passed up the chain to handlers who packaged them for export. Some shipments were falsely labelled as containing batteries and intercepted at Heathrow Airport.
The stolen phones—especially the latest iPhone 16 Pro Max models—can fetch up to £5,000 in China’s grey market. Unlike domestically produced phones, imported devices are prized for their ability to circumvent government monitoring and restrictions, making them highly desirable among certain buyers.
Street-level thieves are typically paid £300 to £500 per device, making phone snatching a lucrative and relatively low-risk criminal enterprise. The Met has warned that the scale of thefts has attracted organised crime groups, with minimal territorial conflict and a streamlined supply chain from London’s streets to overseas buyers.
Commander Andrew Featherstone, the Met’s lead for tackling phone theft, described the recent raids as “the most extraordinary set of operations of this kind that the Met has ever undertaken.” He added, “Londoners deserve to feel safe, and this is a clear sign of our commitment to protecting them and driving down crime.”
Detectives continue to urge the public to remain vigilant, especially in areas where delivery vans are active and high-value goods are in transit. The Met is also calling on phone manufacturers to enhance device security and support law enforcement efforts to curb the trade in stolen electronics.
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