AJ Pritchard’s girlfriend Zara Zoffany has told of her terror as she fought off phone snatchers in central London.
The 30-year-old appeared to be targeted as she met with a friend in Starbucks close to Tottenham Court Road Tube station.
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She posted a video on Instagram to warn her followers to be aware of having their phones out in public.
Zara said: “OK, I’m still a bit shaken up but let me try to articulate this.
“You know when you have a gut feeling and you don’t listen to it and that thing happens… that’s exactly what just happened to me.
“I was meeting a friend at Tottenham Court Road in Starbucks and said to myself, this is not the safest area ‘do not use your phone, look after your possessions’, but ended up thinking it would be fine.
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“We were showing each other photos on our phones. It’s been seven years to catch up on. Next thing these two guys come over putting papers in our faces and getting super close to me.
“I instantly knew what was going to happen so I grab our phones and start screaming, saying ‘what are you doing, f*** off’.
“Everyone stayed silent but they got spooked and run away.”
She then wrote: “Moral of the story is listen to your gut. I’m hoping everyone was in shock and that’s why no one said anything.
“So happy to be with my friend and nothing serious happened or was taken.
“Weirdly felt like an adrenaline rush/ small victory but would not have been the case if something was taken.
Strictly fans convinced AJ Pritchard is engaged as he shares romantic Paris holiday with reality star girlfriend Zara Zoffany
“Another reminder to always stay alert and keep your phone is out of sight.”
Zara is best pals with Topshop heiress Chloe Green and appeared on MTV reality show The Royal World in 2018.
She began dating former Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer AJ Pritchard in 2022 after his split from Abbie Quinnen.
AJ and Zara sparked rumours they’re engaged after sharing snaps from a romanti holiday in Paris.
Soaring smartphone thefts
MORE than 200 smartphones are snatched every day — some 78,000 a year — as demand for second-hand devices rises.
The rate is the highest for over a decade, Home Office statistics reveal, with overall thefts from a person increasing by more than a third.
A crackdown has been announced by the Government, and the Home Office will work with tech firms to find ways to tackle the crime.
Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson said: “The Government is determined to do whatever’s necessary to protect people entitled to walk the streets without the threat of robbery.
“Phone companies must ensure any stolen phones can be quickly, easily and permanently disabled, rather than re-registered for sale.”
“If we work together, Government, tech companies and law enforcement can break the business model of the phone thieves and moped gangs who rely on this trade.”
Zara posted an array of sweet snaps showing the couple holding hands in front of the Eiffel Tower.
It looked like AJ was down on one knee, before the loved up couple twirled beneath the iconic monument in the city of romance.
She captioned it: “From Paris With Love.”
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