A pair of thieves were caught on camera stealing a phone from a pastor while he performed a Facebook live prayer session. Isaac Anderson was recording the broadcast for his followers early yesterday morning in London when he was targeted. The unwitting Ghanaian was about 17 minutes into his live sermon when two balaclava-clad cyclists spotted him in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, at 6.30am.
Apostle Mr Anderson, oblivious to the duo, continued preaching to his followers as the pair rode past, before turning their bikes around and sneaking towards him.
A passing bus driver seemingly attempted to warn the pastor by repeatedly beeping before one of the alleged thieves snatched the iPhone 16 pro max from his hand.
But as the bungling crook made his escape, he failed to notice Mr Anderson’s phone was still broadcasting online.
‘Hey JP, he’s on Tiktok. He’s on TikTok live bro… No fam. How do I end it? It’s on Facebook,’ says the thief, who was wearing a black jumper, beanie and balaclava.
‘Oh s***,’ his accomplice is heard saying as he later tries to cover his face before the video cuts out.
Watch moment below:
Speaking online, Anderson warned as quoted by Daily Mail UK, “All of the sudden, someone from behind on a bike just came and snatched my phone from my hands [an] iPhone 16 pro max. It’s not easy. All my information was on it”
He added: “You have to be very careful… Be careful about your phones and your important stuff. Thieves, burglars and robbers are everywhere. This is London…”
The theft highlights a surge in phone snatchings in London, where incidents have tripled over four years. In 2024, more than 70,000 phones were stolen in the capital, many sold abroad.
The Metropolitan Police is cracking down with plain-clothed officers, e-bikes, and helicopters to catch thieves.
Hours later, Anderson took to his Facebook page to share a video of himself in the hospital bed.
He wrote;
“I’m getting better at the Hospital in London when I fell heavily after my phone was snatched yesterday whilst I was walking in prayer on the street of London.”
Watch below: