A suspected thief got a dose of instant karma after trying to steal a mobile phone out of the hands of a Chinese student on the streets of lawless London. 

In a short video clip, uploaded to Red Note, the alleged crook approaches the student and starts a conversation in a bid to distract him.

In a matter of seconds, it appears the man has swiped his phone before running off with the expensive device and into Tottenham Court Road Tube station

The alleged victim chases after the man, dressed in a camel puffer jacket, into the Tube station, down the escalator and onto the platform.

There, a struggle ensues and the suspected phone snatcher is restrained into a corner by the student who holds him in a vice-like grip before finally retrieving his phone.

He then guards the alleged thief until police and Transport for London (TfL) staff arrive and escort him out of the station.

Police confirmed to MailOnline a man was arrested on suspicion of theft in connection with the incident during rush hour last Wednesday.

Shocking video footage appears to show an alleged thief snatch a phone out of the hands of an unassuming Chinese student

However, it seems  the Chinese student (pictured in black coat) quickly served him instant karma, catching him and retrieving his devic

A Met Police spokesperson said: ‘Police were alerted on Wednesday, 7 May to a report of phone theft in central London.

‘A 28-year-old man had alleged his phone had been stolen between His Majesty’s Theatre and Piccadilly Circus at 17:00hrs on Monday, 5 May.

‘The victim retrieved his phone at Tottenham Court Road tube station after it had been thrown to the ground.

‘A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of theft, and has been bailed pending further enquiries, which are ongoing.’

It comes as London has been hit with a phone snatching epidemic, with the issue reaching crisis point as victims as young as four being targeted.

Figures show there were 22,253 incidents reported phone snatching incidents in Westminster alone in the year leading up to September 2024, equating to 85.4 thefts per every 1,000 people.

Discussing the problem, Paul, who works by the London Eye, previously told MailOnline: ‘I see it all the time. I would say every day. It’s worst around this touristy part of London – particularly along Westminster Bridge.

‘It happens to tourists a lot because they’re unaware. I try to warn them but it doesn’t always work.

After racing through Tottenham Court Road, the Chinese appears to grip the alleged thief in a bear hug in a bid to stop him racing away

The steadfast student guards the man until police eventually arrive to arrest him from the tube platform

MailOnline’s new map shows the apparent routes young crooks are taking on a regular basis in and around Hyde Park

CCTV shows the shocking moment a woman was thrown to the ground as thieves grabbed her mobile phone from her in King’s Road, London

The pair responsible for the brazen daylight attack then ran off past the other boutiques

‘One time, a family asked someone to take a photo of them in front of the London Eye. And the guy they chose ran off with their phone.

‘Usually though, they come past on their bikes and snatch the phone before anyone has a chance to react. It’s a real issue.’

The 51-year-old said he sees the same culprits at work repeatedly, adding: ‘There are groups of them who are here all the time,’ Paul said. ‘The police know about them.

‘I’ve had them trying to steal my phone too. Even though they know that I know who they are. It’s bold.’

Ovye, who works for a bus tour company, said the thieves target ‘anyone’ – and that even children aren’t off limits.

He said: ‘It can happen to anyone. I once saw someone snatch a phone out of a little girl’s hand while she was taking a picture. She can’t have been more than four years old. Unbelievable.’

She was seen making an attempt to pursue the thief as he clutched her phone in his han

Met Police commander, Owain Richards, told MailOnline: ‘We understand the impact that mobile phone theft can have on victims – it’s an invasive and sometimes violent crime – and we’re committed to protecting Londoners and tackling this issue as we make the capital safer.

‘Met officers are targeting resources to hotspot areas, such as Westminster, Lambeth and Newham, with increased patrols and plain clothes officers which deter criminals and make officers more visibly available to members of the community.

‘We continue to use data and technology to build intelligence and track stolen items to target offenders. We are also working with phone firms to ‘design out’ the ability for phones to be reused and sold on as we seek to dismantle the criminal market that fuels robbery and theft.

‘We encourage people to report as soon as they can whenever they have been a victim of mobile phone theft, so officers can investigate swiftly.’