Imagine walking down a bustling London street, only to have your iPhone snatched from your hand in a flash. It’s a nightmare scenario that’s becoming all too common, with over 80,000 iPhones reported stolen in London last year alone. But here’s where it gets controversial: the Metropolitan Police (Met Police) claim Apple isn’t doing enough to stop these stolen devices from re-entering the market. Is Apple turning a blind eye to a growing crisis?
According to the Met Police, Apple has access to the National Mobile Phone Register (NMPR), a database designed to reunite stolen phones with their owners. However, they allege that Apple uses this system to check the network status of trade-in devices but fails to verify if these phones are stolen. This oversight, the police argue, allows thieves to trade in stolen iPhones for credit toward new devices, effectively fueling an ‘epidemic of phone thefts’ in the city. The Telegraph reports that the Met Police have raised this issue with UK Members of Parliament (MPs), emphasizing the tech giant’s apparent lack of action.
Apple’s trade-in program offers up to £670 in credit for old iPhones, a system that, without proper monitoring, could inadvertently reward criminals. The problem is escalating: phone thefts in London jumped from 64,000 in 2023 to over 80,000 last year, costing users and insurers an estimated £50 million in 2024. Worse, the Met Police believe over 75% of these stolen phones end up abroad, often dismantled for parts. For instance, 28% of these devices reportedly reach China, Hong Kong, or Algeria.
Apple, however, defends its practices by highlighting its anti-theft measures. The company has introduced features like stolen device protection, which prevents thieves from wiping phones even if they know the passcode, and a setting that locks iPhones to the original owner’s Apple account. Additionally, Apple is considering blocking stolen phones using their IMEI numbers—a unique identifier linked to mobile networks. But here’s the catch: Apple warns that IMEI blocking could be exploited by fraudsters filing false theft reports. And this is the part most people miss: even if a phone is blocked, it can still be stripped for valuable components, rendering such measures partially ineffective.
The tension escalates as mobile networks accuse Apple of ‘undermining’ efforts to combat retail theft by refusing to ‘brick’ (permanently disable) phones stolen from stores. Interestingly, 80% of smartphones reported stolen to the Met Police are iPhones. Apple, in turn, has criticized the Met Police for not thoroughly investigating these thefts. In June, Apple executive Gary Davis told UK MPs, ‘We need the Met Police to engage in traditional policing by sending us requests for stolen devices. We’re not seeing that.’
Is Apple part of the problem or a reluctant participant in a complex issue? While the company insists it’s taking steps to address theft, the Met Police argue these efforts fall short. Meanwhile, victims are left footing the bill, and thieves continue to profit. What do you think? Is Apple doing enough, or should they take more responsibility? Let’s discuss in the comments—this is a debate that’s far from over.
