A man recently made a bold statement by claiming that Mumbai feels safer than London when it comes to using a phone in public. In a video, the individual is first seen casually typing on his phone while
walking in the busy street of the Indian city and puts it into his pocket without any fear.
The scene then shifts to London, where he grips his phone tightly, looks around nervously and hides it under his jacket, as if he’s trying to protect it.
Mumbai vs London: A Surprising Safety Comparison
“Having travelled to more than 30 capital cities around the world, my inability to use my phone freely in one of the most developed cities in the world still shocks me to this day. And honestly, it just feels like it’s getting worse every day in that regard. The London clip in this video was actually filmed at what I thought was one of the safest areas for me over the last 2 years,” the content creator, Onat Siahaan, explained.
“Right after filming, patrolling police officers on a bike warned me to stay vigilant because of the rising number of phone thefts in the area. He even said that if we just sit on the grass with our phones visible in our hands, they’ll come and snatch them straight away. I literally went home right after hearing that, not even in the mood for a picnic anymore. Stay safe, everyone. Also, does anyone know what the safest area in London is right now, where I can actually scroll on my phone without worry? Because I’m dying to know,” the individual added.
Social Media Users Share Their Own Stories
Reacting to the post, a user wrote, “Lol. I told my friends about this in the UK and they were offended.”
Another shared, “The only time I got pickpocketed in my life was in London, and I have lived in India, South Africa and Colombia.”
“Always welcome to Mumbai,” a comment read.
An individual stated, “The paranoia is real!! I don’t at all take my phone out of my pocket here in London.”
Another mentioned, “Five years ago, on 20th August, a man on a bicycle tried to prise my phone out of my hand right in front of the British Museum in broad daylight. My phone survived. Mercifully, I had a tight grip on it, and my phone stayed with me.”
One more added, “Lived in India all my life, never faced this issue. The only time my stuff was stolen was when I was around white foreigners.”
Data Shows Surprising Crime Rate
According to Numbeo, a platform that tracks and compares crime statistics worldwide, Mumbai’s crime rate is considered moderate, while London’s is higher. Over the past three years, concerns about rising crime have remained moderate in Mumbai compared to London. Worries about home break-ins or theft are rated low in Mumbai, whereas they are moderate in London. Similarly, fears of being robbed are moderate in Mumbai but significantly higher in London.
