Annabel Croft, who competed in the 2023 series of Strictly Come Dancing, has been the victim of a mugging in the middle of the day in London and has now issued a warning to others
Strictly Come Dancing star Annabel Croft has recalled the terrifying moment she was mugged in broad daylight in the middle of London.
The brave star being the target of a criminal has prompted her to speak out to make sure others don't suffer the same issue. Annabel, who competed in the 2023 series alongside Johannes Radebe, said she was waiting for a taxi when the incident occurred.
Speaking on Instagram, Annabel detailed the moment and thanked those who rushed to her aid. "I just wanted to warn people who are on their own in London. I just got mugged waiting for a taxi outside King's Cross St Pancras," she wrote.
"The man was riding a bike and wearing a black balaclava. He rode straight at me and took my phone clean out of my hands. He rode away with it but luckily dropped my phone so I got it back. Terrifying! " Annabel added. She added: "On a positive note, there are some lovely people out there. Luckily a lovely gentleman witnessed it and came over to help me. Thank you to whoever you are."
Annabel is the latest person to suffer at the hands of cycle and moped thieves, who have been doing "snatch and grabs" around London for the past few years. Several celebrities have said they have had their phones stolen as they make their way through and around busy train stations. A phone is being swiped every four minutes, according to research by the Labour Party who have promised to crack down on the yobs as part of their manifesto.
Earlier this year, former Love Island star Anna-May Robey warned fans to be more vigilant as she opened up about being robbed on the street and having her bank account drained by thieves. The reality TV star shared the harrowing experience with her fans on Instagram in February. She detailed how her phone was snatched by a cyclist while she was en route to a photo shoot, leaving her in a state of shock and financial loss.
In an emotional post, Anna-May recounted: "The cyclist approached me from behind so I was unaware and completely oblivious. The phone was unlocked so the guy had access to everything. He was able to change my Apple ID straight away so I couldn't track the phone or access any of my information on any other devices."
She lamented the invasion of her privacy and the theft of not just her phone but also her peace of mind, saying: "I know it's easy to replace a mobile phone, but my whole life is on there - Apple Pay, personal information, images, work etc. By the time I managed to contact a bank to cancel my cards and Apple Pay, it was too late. I found out all accounts had been rinsed. They had not only stolen my phone but spent thousands of pounds, down to my last penny, savings and credit cards were maxed. Leaving me with absolutely NOTHING."
Anna-May continued to express her frustration and disbelief at the ease with which the thieves bypassed security measures: "It made it a lot easier for them that my phone was unlocked when I was approached but it couldn't have been helped. I always thought I was safe with Apply Pay because of passwords, Face ID and all the security these devices have in place but it's still not enough. They also had access to PayPal credit etc."
She confessed that it's been a "stressful and scary" time for her and she felt compelled to spread the word. The distressed celeb expressed her desire to post about the incident as it "happens so often and is so easily done". The reality TV star added in her caption: "The amount of people I've seen this week walking down the street the same way I was just put things into perspective. I just still can't get to grips with how easily this is done and how for most people it's not just a phone but it's your whole life and has access to everything."
Her fans and fellow stars flocked to the comments section to offer their sympathy and recount their own harrowing tales with petty crime. Jessie Wynter commented: "Sorry this happened Anna May, sending love," while a concerned fan cautioned others: "PLEASE GIRLIES don't get your phone out in public unless absolutely necessary, it's so not worth it. Wait till you get to a safe space to make your calls and answer texts."
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