What began as a routine online prayer session in London quickly turned into a scene of chaos and fear after Pastor Isaac Anderson, a Ghanaian preacher, became the target of a brazen robbery during a live broadcast on Facebook. The shocking incident took place early in the morning on Hoe Street, Walthamstow, at approximately 6.30am, catching both the pastor and his online congregation off guard.
Pastor Anderson was fully engaged in delivering his morning prayers when two masked cyclists wearing balaclavas suddenly approached him from behind. Completely unaware of the danger, the preacher continued his message as the assailants closed in. A nearby bus driver attempted to intervene by honking repeatedly to alert the pastor, but the thieves acted swiftly, snatching the iPhone 16 Pro Max from his hand before he could react.
Unknown to the robbers, the iPhone was still actively recording the live broadcast on Facebook. In the viral footage, one of the thieves is heard exclaiming, “Hey JP, he’s on Tiktok. He’s on TikTok live bro… No fam. How do I end it? It’s on Facebook.” His accomplice muttered in panic, “Oh s***,” as he attempted to cover his face while the live feed continued capturing every moment of the crime.
Speaking to the media afterward, Apostle Anderson described the harrowing ordeal. “All of the sudden, someone from behind on a bike just came and snatched my phone from my hands [an] iPhone 16 pro max. It’s not easy. All my information was on it,” he said, highlighting the potential personal and professional impact of losing such an important device during the live stream.
He went on to warn others about the need for vigilance in public spaces. “You have to be very careful when you’re going through your daily activities. Be careful about your phones and your important stuff – be careful, be careful, be careful. Thieves, burglars, and robbers are everywhere. This is London… you don’t know the people that are around you that will come and hurt you,” he emphasized, underlining the importance of situational awareness even during ordinary routines.
The incident comes amid rising concerns over mobile phone thefts in London, with official reports indicating that over 70,000 devices were stolen across the city in 2024 alone. Such thefts not only pose a threat to personal safety but also create significant disruptions to daily life, especially for individuals who rely on their devices for professional and religious engagements.
The robbery, captured in real-time by the iPhone’s live stream, has since gone viral on social media, eliciting widespread shock and sympathy for Pastor Anderson, while also highlighting the growing issue of street crimes in urban centers like London. Online viewers praised the bus driver for attempting to alert the pastor and have shared the footage to raise awareness about remaining alert while in public spaces.
Watch the video here…
Ghanaian UK-based pastor, Apostle Isaac Anderson, had his iPhone 16 Pro Max snatched from his hand on the streets of London while walking by the roadside and leading prayers in a Facebook Live session with his church members. pic.twitter.com/lpVWck8Qkr
— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) September 25, 2025