Phone companies have the task of finding innovative ways to stop the trading of stolen phones. This is what the British Authorities are asking of the mobile phone makers.
Phone companies are being urged by the UK government to help tackle a sharp rise in phone thefts, which have more than doubled in England and Wales in the past year. In the year to March, an estimated 78,000 “thefts from the person” occurred, up from 31,000 the previous year. The government plans to meet with tech companies to discuss measures such as permanently disabling stolen phones to prevent them from being resold. The prosecution rate for these crimes is low, with only 0.8% of cases resulting in charges. Authorities are also increasing patrols in high-risk areas and emphasizing the role of manufacturers in reducing the resale value of stolen devices.
To help combat theft, users are advised to report stolen phones to the police using their IMEI number, cancel their SIM card, notify their bank, and use tools like “Find My iPhone” or “Find My Device” to secure or erase their data. The government is pushing for more advanced solutions, including a permanent lock that would render a stolen phone completely unusable.
