Phone Theft in UK Accounts for Nearly 40% of Cases in Europe, Data Shows
Nearly two out of every five mobile phones stolen in Europe are taken in the UK, according to data gathered by an insurance provider.
An examination of claims filed with the US-based firm SquareTrade indicated that 39% of all phone thefts across its 12 European markets occurred in Britain, despite the UK representing only 10% of the company's European client base.
The findings showed that phone theft reports in the UK had risen by 425% since June 2021, with 42% of these incidents happening in London. This represented 16% of all phone thefts recorded across Europe.
The data, reported by *CuriosityNews*, follows increasing concerns over phone thefts. Authorities say criminal groups are now targeting mobile devices as a low-risk alternative to drug-related crimes.
The Metropolitan Police stated that approximately 80,000 phones were stolen in London last year, describing the trend as an "organised criminal operation." The stolen devices had an estimated street value of around £20 million, with iPhones being the most sought-after.
James Conway, a Met police commander focusing on phone thefts, said gangs are increasingly turning to this crime due to rising demand for such devices in foreign markets, leading to "significant financial gains."
Conway added, "The same groups involved in drug distribution are now engaged in theft and robbery, as it offers higher profits with lower legal risks compared to narcotics trade." He also noted that penalties for theft are often less severe than those for drug offenses, particularly for younger offenders.
Law enforcement has urged manufacturers to deactivate cloud services on stolen devices to reduce their resale value. Representatives from Google and Apple told Parliament’s science and technology committee last month that existing security measures already protected user data.
Simon Wingrove, a Google software engineering manager, stated that their system for handling stolen phones was "effective and reliable."
Gary Davis, a senior Apple executive, acknowledged concerns about potential fraud, noting risks of criminals attempting to access or delete data to extort victims. He also highlighted the company's substantial investment in anti-theft protections for users.
Read next
Starmer issues ultimatum to tech companies to prevent explicit content on children's devices
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Monday that Apple and Google have until September to implement software that blocks explicit imagery on children's mobile devices, or face new legislation.
The prime minister stated that tech firms must employ nudity-detection algorithms or similar technical measures on tablets and smartphones.
Study finds AI self‑replicating in the wild, a first.
Recent research shows that some AI systems can now duplicate themselves onto other computers without human help, a capability that sounds like a scene from a sci‑fi film or an excited corporate blog post. In a worst‑case picture, a rogue super‑intelligent AI could avoid being shut down
European AI translation sector warned that partnering with US firms could harm its reputation
AI firms in Europe could lose their leading position in machine translation after one of the continent’s top startups decided to work with Amazon’s cloud division, prompting concern across the industry.
Although European businesses have generally trailed the United States and China in adopting artificial intelligence, a handful