Sussex film highlights mobile phone theft epidemic

A new film by Horsham film-maker Tristan Loraine sets out “to tackle one of the fastest-growing crimes in the UK in a way that audiences would genuinely enjoy watching.”

A Girl Called Alice was produced with the support of EE and Crimestoppers to raise awareness of the growing epidemic of mobile phone theft, which saw around 125,000 phones stolen in London alone last year.

“Despite the scale of the problem, many people remain unaware of just how vulnerable they are,” Tristan says.

“Rather than making a traditional public information film, I wanted to tell a compelling cinematic story that would entertain first and educate second. I have always believed that audiences engage far more deeply with an issue when they become emotionally invested in the characters and the narrative.

“At the heart of A Girl Called Alice is a battle of wits between two highly skilled mobile phone thieves played by Tegan Grace Muggeridege and Antonio Aakeel. One is widely regarded as one of the best in London. The other is determined to prove they are even better. What unfolds is a tense and entertaining game of cat and mouse in which each tries to outsmart the other. Through that story, the audience gains an insight into the techniques used by professional phone thieves and how quickly an ordinary day can take an unexpected turn.

“Visually we wanted the film to feel like a contemporary British thriller, combining dynamic cinematography, carefully choreographed action sequences and an authentic portrayal of London. The aim was to create a film that could stand on its own as an engaging piece of cinema while also leaving audiences with practical knowledge that could help protect them from becoming victims.

“The significance of the film lies in its ability to combine entertainment with public awareness. Today, our mobile phones are far more than communication devices. They contain our finances, photographs, personal memories, work, travel information and, increasingly, our digital identity. Losing a phone is no longer simply an inconvenience; for many people it can have serious financial and emotional consequences.

Tristan added: “Premiering at the Raindance Film Festival last month was a tremendous honour for everyone involved and demonstrated that films made with a public purpose can also achieve artistic recognition. Since its premiere, A Girl Called Alice has won ten international awards in its first month, an extraordinary response that reflects both the quality of the filmmaking and the relevance of the subject matter.

“Ultimately, I hope audiences leave the film thoroughly entertained but also more aware of the risks that exist around them every day. If the film encourages people to think twice before using their phones in vulnerable situations, to better protect their devices and personal data, or even prevents a single theft, then it will have achieved exactly what we set out to do.”

For more information about the film, visit agirlcalledalice.com.

According to the BBC, a phone is stolen in London every seven to eight minutes, with children as young as 14 being targeted over social media and paid up to £100 to steal smart devices for organised crime gangs.

The film seeks to encourage members of the public to report information regarding phone theft anonymously via Crimestoppers’ charity channels.

Between 2017 and February 2024, 587,498 phones were stolen in London, excluding the City of London, with only 13,998 recovered and another 67,064 thefts reported as of April 2026. With the average cost of a smartphone hitting just over £500, according to the Times of India, and cost of living still impacting both the working and middle class, this remains a burgeoning issue that the average Brit simply cannot afford, the film argues.

Tristan founded Fact Not Fiction Films in 2006 and has produced and directed over 30 films, shorts and documentaries. He is a former airline captain who retrained at the National Film and Television School and with Raindance. The company was set up to make films about public interest issues and has gone on to produce several award-winning projects. The company mission has always been to produce captivating and compelling films that highlight key issues and make a difference in society.

Tegan Grace Muggeridge is a British actress, who made her feature film debut in A Christmas Story Christmas , a sequel to the original A Christmas Story. She later appeared in the short film Aguska alongside Simon Callow and Beholden with Adam Deacon, Leon Lopez and Louise Ann Munro, directed by Leon Lopez (Hollyoaks, Death in Paradise and Emmerdale).