Recent government data shows that an estimated 78,000 thefts from individuals occurred in the year leading up to March. These thefts typically involve items like phones, bags, and wallets being taken without the use or threat of force. This marks a significant increase from the 31,000 incidents reported the previous year.

Recent government data shows that an estimated 78,000 thefts from individuals occurred in the year leading up to March. These thefts typically involve items like phones, bags, and wallets being taken without the use or threat of force. This marks a significant increase from the 31,000 incidents reported the previous year.

Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson has called on phone manufacturers to enhance anti-theft technology, urging them to ensure that stolen phones can be permanently disabled. This measure aims to prevent stolen devices from being resold on the second-hand market.

Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson has called on phone manufacturers to enhance anti-theft technology, urging them to ensure that stolen phones can be permanently disabled. This measure aims to prevent stolen devices from being resold on the second-hand market.

To address the issue, the Home Office will host a summit with tech companies and phone manufacturers. The goal is to explore new innovations that could help curb the illegal trade of stolen phones, building on existing anti-theft features already embedded in modern smartphones.

Dame Diana emphasized the government’s commitment to dismantling the networks responsible for organizing these thefts. She stressed the importance of phone companies ensuring that stolen devices can be swiftly and permanently disabled to prevent their re-entry into the second-hand market, and promised further discussions on necessary actions to achieve this.