The Metropolitan Police in London has issued a formal appeal to Apple, Google, and Samsung, calling on the three companies to implement stronger technical measures that would make stolen smartphones permanently unusable, not just locked. The call comes amid a significant and ongoing problem with phone theft in the British capital and other major cities, where criminals steal devices despite existing security features because a secondary market exists for parts and for phones that can be accessed through unofficial means.

The Met’s appeal reflects a broader frustration among law enforcement agencies globally that while modern smartphones have strong built-in security, determined thieves have found ways to work around it through component harvesting, IMEI spoofing, and black market accessing services that render current deterrents only partially effective.

The Scale of Phone Theft in London

Phone theft has been one of the most persistent and fast-growing crimes in London for several years. Motorcyclists snatching phones from pedestrians became widespread enough to spawn a dedicated policing response, and smartphone theft accounts for a disproportionate share of all personal theft reported to the Metropolitan Police. Beyond the financial loss of the device itself, phone theft frequently gives criminals access to banking apps, personal photos, passwords stored in browsers, and the ability to lock victims out of their own accounts before the theft is even reported.

• Tens of thousands of phones are stolen in London every year, with many victims reporting financial fraud committed via their device within hours of the theft.
• Current ‘Activation Lock’ features on iPhone and ‘Factory Reset Protection’ on Android prevent easy resale of locked phones, but do not eliminate the market for stolen devices entirely.
• A secondary market for phone components – screens, cameras, batteries – means even a fully locked phone has value to parts dealers, removing a key deterrent.
• Law enforcement across Europe and North America has called for industry action as part of a coordinated push that mirrors similar campaigns that preceded improvements in Activation Lock a decade ago.

What Police Are Asking For

The Metropolitan Police’s specific requests go beyond what current operating systems offer. They want the tech companies to implement measures that would render a device’s hardware permanently inoperable when the device is reported stolen – not just prevent software access, but make the physical components unsellable by making them permanently tied to verified ownership in a way that can be confirmed by any repair shop or parts buyer.

They are also calling for greater cooperation with law enforcement on IMEI databases, faster response times to device tracking requests made by police, and investment in public education campaigns to help consumers understand what protections are and are not in place on their devices.

How the Companies Have Responded

Apple, Google, and Samsung have each invested significantly in theft deterrence over the years, and none has publicly dismissed the latest police request. Apple’s Stolen Device Protection feature, introduced in 2024, added friction for thieves who attempt to use a stolen iPhone even when they know the passcode. Android’s Theft Protection features use AI to detect when a phone has been snatched and lock it automatically. But law enforcement argues these measures are not sufficient given the continued scale of the problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if my phone is stolen in London?

Report it to the police immediately and get a crime reference number. Contact your carrier to suspend service and block the IMEI. If you have Apple’s Find My or Android’s Find My Device enabled, use it to remotely lock the device. Contact your bank to freeze any accounts accessible via apps on the stolen phone.

Does phone insurance cover theft?

Most phone insurance policies cover theft, but require a police report and the IMEI number. Read your policy carefully for exclusions and required timeframes for reporting.