On the streets of Britain's pickpocketing capital - and the dark arts gangs use to pinch phones, watches and wallets

Pickpocketing is surging in London with the country's top ten hotspots all in the capital, a study revealed today as criminals increasingly target unwitting tourists. The research by licensing firm Get Licensed put Southwark – home to Shakespeare's Globe and The Shard - in third with 5,935 thefts or 1,903 per 100,000 people. Sam Gordon, 20, who works as a waiter in Chinatown in London's West End, told MailOnline that he sees people getting pickpocketed 'all the time' - and has even been a victim himself Steven Lorrimam, who runs a souvenir shop by the London Eye, said theft was particularly a problem near Waterloo train station and outside hotels The other London boroughs in the top ten were Kensington and Chelsea, Hackney, Islington, Lambeth, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Haringey. Ali El Guerch, 24, a bartender in Covent Garden, said thieves have even started lurking around pubs, where they put a piece of paper on the table before taking a phone Tour bus worker Darren Day, 57, said pickpocketing is rife around tourist hotspots in London Malik Nadeem, who runs a souvenir shop by Westminster Bridge, said tourists are specifically targeted by thieves. Tourists outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster where pickpocketing is rife Dee Corsi, the organisation's chief executive, told MailOnline: 'The security of all those who visit the West End remains our top priority. '