Mobile Phone Companies Boost Security on High Road

Chiswick one of a 'small proportion' of locations with a locked door policy

The front door of the Vodaphone shop remains locked during trading hours

July 14, 2025

Over the last few weeks two mobile phone shops on Chiswick High Road have started locking their doors during trading hours. Customers now need to knock and wait for a security guard to give them access.

This policy has been instituted at both the Vodaphone and Three stores although EE continues to provide open access for customers. A spokesperson for one of the mobile phone companies confirmed that this extra security measures was being introduced in a ‘small proportion’ of its stores nationally with Chiswick identified as an area particularly at risk.

Vodaphone and Three are in the process of merging and it is believed that the policy is being selectively implemented across both store brands.

A spokesperson for Vodaphone said, “Our Vodafone store in Chiswick has been operating a closed door policy since early June. Over the past four months, the telecoms sector has seen an alarming surge in aggressive robberies and attempted robberies in stores, particularly across London and the Southeast of England. In response the industry has implemented a variety of safety measures in some stores, including a locked door policy, to protect our retail staff and customers.

“These events can be accompanied by threats and violence, which can be both physically and psychologically harmful to our people, customers and those members of the public who are nearby. They can also cause severe disruption to our business operations whilst police secure the scene to conduct investigations.

“Violence of any kind against our employees and customers is completely unacceptable, and their safety is our upmost priority. In addition to working with other telecoms providers on this issue, we are keen to work with Government and decision makers to discuss what further actions can be taken as a collective to address this growing issue.”

The Vodaphone store on Chiswick High Road

A spokesperson for O2 which closed its store in Chiswick several years ago has instituted a similar policy in Ealing where the Vodaphone shop has also been kept locked. Unlike Three, O2 is a completely separate company from Vodaphone. They said this was in response to a growing number of thefts from organised criminal gangs in certain areas and had only been implemented in a handful of stores.

It is understood that the move is partly response to a concern about ‘steaming’ type robberies in which a group of thieves swarm into a store and threaten staff.

The Three shop of Chiswick High Road is also locked

Mobile phone shops are not the only type of business to introduce a locked door policy. Others include Mountain Warehouse, Whistles and Maverick and Wolf opticians. More recent data shows that theft from shops on the High Road has fallen from the exceptionally high levels seen last July. It is not clear whether this is due to extra security measure being taken or the arrest and incarceration of some of the more prolific local offenders.

However, mobile phone related crime appears to be on the increase. According to data from the Metropolitan Police there were 231,000 mobile phone thefts and robberies over the last four years, including devices being taken from people on the street. This type of crime has risen three-fold and a high proportion of phone snatches take place in the West End.

In 2024 there were 81,256 offences of this type reported, an increase of 20% and it is believed that many thefts are not reported if the owner’s phone is not insured.

EE is the only mobile shop chain to remain unlocked in Chiswick

The market for stolen mobile phones is believed to be worth £50 million with many sold on the overseas black market where they are stripped for parts frustrating the attempts of manufacturers to increase device security.