Apple’s efforts to make stolen iPhones less useful appear to be paying off, with London’s Metropolitan Police claiming that recent security improvements are making it harder for criminals to profit from phone theft. The police force told the BBC that it has started sharing data with Apple to better understand what happens to stolen devices after they are taken. The collaboration is aimed at tracking whether stolen phones are being reactivated and identifying ways to further reduce their resale value.
According to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, early data suggests that only a small number of stolen iPhones are now being successfully reactivated compared to a few months ago. He said Apple believes it has solved a key problem that previously allowed thieves to factory reset stolen devices and sell them as working phones, often in overseas markets.
“If stolen phones cannot be reactivated, their value collapses, and so does the incentive to steal them,” Rowley said.
Phone theft has become a major issue in several cities around the world because stolen smartphones can fetch high prices in international markets. Police believe many stolen devices are exported and resold after being reset. By making reactivation difficult, Apple is effectively reducing the financial incentive behind these crimes.
The Metropolitan Police says the impact is already visible. Thefts involving mobile phones reportedly fell by 18 percent between June 2025 and May 2026 compared to the previous year. While policing measures have also played a role, authorities believe stronger device security is helping reduce the appeal of stealing smartphones.
Apple’s Stolen Device Protection explained
A major reason behind this change is Apple’s Stolen Device Protection feature, which the company recently enabled by default with iOS 26.4.
The feature is designed to stop thieves from taking control of an iPhone immediately after stealing it. When the device is away from familiar locations such as the owner’s home or workplace, Apple adds extra security checks before critical actions can be performed.
These actions include changing the Apple Account password, removing Face ID or Touch ID, turning off Find My, erasing the device, or modifying important security settings. In many cases, the system introduces delays and requires additional authentication before allowing these changes.
This gives the real owner valuable time to use another device, mark the iPhone as lost, and secure their account before a thief can wipe or resell the handset. If stolen devices become harder to reset and reactivate, the business model behind phone theft becomes less attractive. A phone that cannot be reused is worth much less to criminals, reducing the incentive to steal it in the first place.
– Ends
Source link
[ad_3]
