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‘Getting worse’: UK-based creator shows how he protects his phone while walking in Mumbai vs London, sparks conversation

Onat Siahaan shared that the London segment of the video was filmed in an area he had considered safe during his two years in the country.

The viral video shows him relaxed and carefree when using his phone in Mumbai (Image source: @yuanathan/Instagram)

UK-based content creator Onat Siahaan’s recent video on public safety in Mumbai and London has sparked a conversation. Contrary to the common belief that London, the capital of the UK, is safer than Mumbai, Siahaan shared that his personal experiences suggest otherwise.

In the video posted on Instagram, Siahaan highlights a contrast in how he uses his phone in public in both cities. He further shares that he is more at ease using his phone in Mumbai, without the constant fear of theft.

“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,” he wrote in the caption.

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He added that the London segment of the video was filmed in an area he had considered safe during his two years there. However, right after filming, police officers patrolling on bikes approached him and warned him to stay alert due to a surge in phone snatchings.

“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. But 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 said.

Siahaan also highlighted how rampant and quick the thefts can be. “If people just sit on the grass with their phones visible in their hands, they’ll come and snatch them straight away,” he claimed. The viral video shows Siahaan relaxed and carefree when using his phone in Mumbai, but he can be seen cautious and constantly protecting his phone while in London.

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A post shared by Onat Siahaan (@yuanathan)

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The video quickly gained traction, with several users sharing their personal experiences. “The only time I got pickpocketed in my life, was in London..and I have lived in India, South Africa and Colombia,” a user shared. “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,” another user commented.

“Lived in India all my life, never faced this issue. Only time my stuff was stolen was when I was around white foreigners,” a third user reacted.