Friday 26 October 2018 11:15 am  |  Updated:  Tuesday 21 May 2019 4:21 pm

Central line revealed as worst Tube line for pickpocketing as London Underground thefts rise by a third

By: Michael Searles

Theft on London's Underground has increased by more than a third over the past two years, according to new data, with the Central Line emerging as the worst Tube line for pickpocketing.

The figures reveal that there were 5,153 thefts on the Tube between August 2017 and July this year.

The Central and Piccadilly lines topped the charts, with more than 800 reported thefts apiece.

Both of those lines accounted for 34 per cent of the total thefts, according to the statistics obtained by Policy Expert through a freedom of information request to British Transport Police (BTP).

The Central Line saw 879 reported thefts over the year, with the Piccadilly Line narrowly behind with 864. The Victoria Line was third highest with 726 thefts, followed by the Northern and Jubilee lines.

Saturday proved the most fruitful day of the week for pickpockets, accounting for more than 900 of the total reported thefts throughout the year.

That will go some way to explaining why the Waterloo and City Line, which only runs Monday to Friday, proved the safest, with only five thefts reported during the entire period.

Of the major lines that run all week, the Circle Line saw the fewest number of thefts – just 97.

The evening rush hour was most common time on any given day for pickpocketing, with commuters often targeted between 6pm and 7pm as they made their way home from work.

In comparison, the Night Tube proved relatively safe, accounting for just eight per cent of incidents, though there are far fewer passengers at night.

Women reported 56 per cent of the thefts, suggesting they were more likely to be targeted, with the 25-34 age group accounting for a considerably higher amount of the thefts than other age groups.

Adam Powell, operations director at Policy Insurer, said: “Thieves usually use distraction tactics where they try and divert a person’s attention so items can be stolen – usually a phone, watch, wallet, tablet, or a gadget of some description, but sometimes an entire handbag.

“The Tube can be a busy place, so it’s important to ensure you’re not a target for opportunistic thieves when swept up in the crowds. Keep an eye on your bags and any other valuables, and be vigilant around other passengers.”

Here's a table showing how many thefts took place on each London Tube line between August 2017 and July 2018, according to the BTP: