Police in the United Kingdom have dismantled a major international phone theft network that smuggled 40,000 stolen devices from London to China. The investigation began on Christmas Eve when a victim used Apple’s Find My feature to trace a missing iPhone to a warehouse near Heathrow Airport. Inside, officers discovered hundreds of stolen phones packed for shipment to Hong Kong, sparking a wider probe that exposed one of the region’s largest mobile theft operations.
Metropolitan Police officials stated that the gang had exported tens of thousands of stolen phones over a year, accounting for nearly half of London’s total mobile thefts. Coordinated raids across London and Hertfordshire led to 18 arrests and the recovery of more than 2,000 devices. Among those charged were two Afghan nationals and one Indian national accused of conspiring to handle stolen goods.
Investigators said the group operated like a global business, paying street thieves up to £300 per iPhone and selling the same devices in China for as much as £4,000. The phones were in high demand because they offered unrestricted internet access. The operation proved so profitable that many local criminals reportedly shifted from drug dealing to phone theft.
Authorities credit Apple’s Find My system for helping uncover the smuggling ring. London’s phone thefts have tripled in four years to over 80,000 cases annually, but police say thefts are down 14 percent this year due to tougher enforcement. Mayor Sadiq Khan has urged smartphone manufacturers to strengthen anti-theft tools to make stolen devices unusable.
Metropolitan Police officials stated that the gang had exported tens of thousands of stolen phones over a year, accounting for nearly half of London’s total mobile thefts. Coordinated raids across London and Hertfordshire led to 18 arrests and the recovery of more than 2,000 devices. Among those charged were two Afghan nationals and one Indian national accused of conspiring to handle stolen goods.
Investigators said the group operated like a global business, paying street thieves up to £300 per iPhone and selling the same devices in China for as much as £4,000. The phones were in high demand because they offered unrestricted internet access. The operation proved so profitable that many local criminals reportedly shifted from drug dealing to phone theft.
Authorities credit Apple’s Find My system for helping uncover the smuggling ring. London’s phone thefts have tripled in four years to over 80,000 cases annually, but police say thefts are down 14 percent this year due to tougher enforcement. Mayor Sadiq Khan has urged smartphone manufacturers to strengthen anti-theft tools to make stolen devices unusable.
