A London woman has unearthed a worrying new crime tactic after tracking her stolen mobile phone to a public park, where she discovered it buried alongside four other handsets.
The Snatch and The Chase
Agiimaa Oyungerel, 35, had her Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra violently snatched from her hand by a man on a bicycle. The theft occurred outside Surrey Quays train station in London on Saturday, 20 December. Agiimaa, a journalist and translator visiting from Mongolia, was on her way to a car boot sale at the time.
She immediately gave chase but was no match for the cyclist, who sped away. Her hopes of seeing the device again were slim until staff at a nearby pawnbroker revealed another victim had been targeted in the same spot just minutes before.
The Digital Hunt and Shocking Discovery
Using Google's Find My Device tracking service, Agiimaa spent two hours tracing the phone's signal. It led her to Pepys Park. There, she got on her hands and knees, digging through dirt, leaves, and branches under a tree.
"Something hard touched my hand and I found my phone and four other phones," Agiimaa said. "They were all iPhones except mine." The discovery confirmed reports of a new method where thieves hide stolen devices in soil or under foliage, waiting for the heat to die down before retrieving and selling them overseas.
Police Response and Community Safety Fears
This burial tactic had previously been reported in London's West End, notably at the Phoenix Garden, raising concerns it is spreading. After her find, Agiimaa called the police and personally delivered the five phones to the station.
However, she expressed ongoing fear for her safety. "I don't feel really safe because the police didn't take the perpetrator so he's still in the area," she stated. "I don't feel like going out on my own." She hopes the police can return the phones to their owners and intensify efforts to catch those responsible.
The Metropolitan Police has been approached for comment on this emerging pattern of phone theft and the specific incident.
