TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Metropolitan Police in London revealed that mobile phone theft and robbery, particularly involving iPhones, have surged and are now being exploited by organized crime groups, including drug gangs.
In 2024, around 80,000 phones were reported stolen in London, about 16,000 more than the previous year. The total value of the stolen devices is estimated at £50 million, or over Rp1 trillion.
Police said two-thirds of all theft cases in London now involve mobile phones, with iPhones accounting for around 80 percent of those stolen. The high resale value of Apple products is seen as the main reason, especially since roughly 46 percent of phones in the UK are iPhones.
Due to their high value, drug gangs are increasingly turning to phone theft for profit. Darren Scates, Chief Digital, Data, and Technology Officer at the Metropolitan Police, told the British Parliament’s Science, Innovation, and Technology Committee that phone theft is becoming more sophisticated, involving organized crime groups and international networks.
“We do see similar numbers in Madrid, Paris, Barcelona, certainly on a per capita basis they suffer very similarly to London,” he said, according to The Standard on June 4, 2025.
Tracking data shows about 75 percent of the stolen phones are trafficked abroad, with destinations including Algeria, China, and Hong Kong. London police are now working with international agencies such as the National Crime Agency and authorities in Algeria.
London Police Chief James Conway said phone theft is also fueling violent crime in the city. “If you take a step deeper, 65% to 70% of our knife crime is produced by our robbery problem so this is also driving a significant chunk of our violence challenge in the capital,” he said.
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is also collaborating with Apple and Google to make stolen phones unusable. One proposal involves globally blocking devices via their IMEI numbers. Currently, phones are only blocked on UK networks, which does not prevent their use overseas.
Apple has pushed back on the proposal. Gary Davis, Apple’s Head of Law Enforcement Affairs, said the company does not fully oppose the idea, but raised concerns about potential fraud and disruption to the spare parts market.
“We are concerned about a world where by it would be the person who claims to be the owner asking. We see extensive fraud attempts,” he said.
Davis added that Apple sees frequent attempts to commit identity fraud. “Every month we see over 1,000 people try to imitate you, me, other people here to seek your data from us and to delete your account.”
Editor's Choice: Apple Brings Android-Like Vapor Chamber Cooling to iPhone 17 Pro
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Apple Brings Android-Like Vapor Chamber Cooling to iPhone 17 Pro
4 hari lalu
Apple is rumored to incorporate a vapor chamber cooling system into the iPhone 17 Pro, with the non-Pro model sticking to the conventional copper and graphite-based cooling system.
Apple Reportedly in Talks to Acquire AI Startup Perplexity
4 hari lalu
Apple's rumored acquisition of Perplexity is said to be the largest in the company's history, surpassing the $3 billion purchase of Beats in 2014.
Garuda Indonesia Clears Crew in Passenger Phone Loss
8 hari lalu
Garuda Indonesia Commercial Director said that the investigation, conducted in coordination with the police, ran from June 6 to June 18, 2025.
Member of Irish Group Kneecap Charged with Terrorism in UK for Displaying Hezbollah Flag
9 hari lalu
Liam O'Hanna, a member of the Irish rap group Kneecap, is accused of breaking UK law for displaying a Hezbollah flag at a concert.
Parental Guides and AI: Apple Unveils Updates for iPhone, iPad, and More
9 hari lalu
The updates by Apple are aimed at improving the comfort and experience of its users.
Trump Family Unveils New 'All-American' T1 Phone, Sets to Launch in August
11 hari lalu
The Trump Organization introduces the gold-coated T1 Phone, claimed to be U.S.-made and set to launch in August 2025.
iOS 26 Brings Cross-Platform eSIM Transfers Between iPhone and Android
12 hari lalu
Several iOS 26 users reported finding the 'Transfer to Android' option in their mobile settings.
Apple Allows Developers Free Access to New Local AI Models
14 hari lalu
One of the announcements at the annual WWDC 2025 has become a significant update in Apple's on-device AI strategy.
Top 10 Most Beautiful Airport Landings: A Traveler's Must-See List
14 hari lalu
The most beautiful airport landings give travelers a sneak peek of what lies ahead, presenting postcard-worthy aerial views.
Sole Survivor Emerges from Tragic Air India Crash, Found in Seat 11A
15 hari lalu
Ramesh Vishwaskumar Bucharvada was the sole passenger to survive the tragic Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad.
