London pastor hospitalized after iPhone snatched during Facebook Live sermon

A Christian pastor in London was hospitalized after his iPhone was snatched during a Facebook Live sermon and he fell while chasing the thieves. Isaac Anderson, a Ghana-born preacher, told supporters to pray for his recovery from a hospital bed, describing a city he said is plagued by criminals.

The incident occurred around 6:30 a.m. on Hoe Street in Walthamstow, when two balaclava-clad cyclists approached from behind and snatched the iPhone 16 Pro Max from his hand. A passing bus driver attempted to warn the pastor with a loud beep as the suspects rode away. The moment was captured on the livestream; the video shows the suspects reacting to the feed and discussing whether it was broadcasting on Facebook or TikTok as they tried to end the stream. Anderson continued his religious broadcast as the theft unfolded, then followed the thieves and later fell, sustaining injuries that required ambulance transport to A&E.

Anderson, speaking from his hospital bed, said he was admitted after the fall and urged people to be careful with their phones and personal items in London, where he warned that thieves are everywhere. The incident comes as London continues to contend with a surge in mobile phone thefts tied to gangs on high-powered e-bikes and scooters.

Reaction to the attack quickly spread. Greg Swenson, chairman of Republicans Overseas UK, described the episode as shocking and tied it to broader concerns about crime in London, criticizing what he called woke policies. He noted that he himself narrowly avoided a phone theft in Belgravia last week and argued that London should not adopt policies seen in some American cities.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the case illustrated the reality of lawlessness in London under Mayor Sadiq Khan, citing police data that roughly 80,000 phones were stolen in London last year and urging the mayor to act to protect residents and visitors.

The broader context: London has seen a surge in mobile phone thefts linked to organized groups using high-powered e-bikes and scooters to snatch devices. Data show more than 70,000 phones were stolen in London in 2024, including about 70,137 devices in the capital as part of a wider UK pattern. Many devices are reportedly moved overseas for resale, contributing to significant consumer losses. In response, the Metropolitan Police have intensified a crackdown on the so-called industrial-scale crime wave, deploying plainclothes officers to hotspot areas such as the West End and Westminster, increasing patrols with e-bikes, and even using helicopters to track suspects. The Daily Mail has requested comment from the Met on the pastor’s case.