London Phone Theft Spurs Death Threats as Gangs Chase Access to 71,000 Stolen Devices
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 23
London Phone Theft Spurs Death Threats as Gangs Chase Access to 71,000 Stolen Devices
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 23
Alex Pikula’s mother received texts threatening rape and death, plus a video of a man waving a gun, after his phone was snatched by an e-bike rider in London’s West End.
The messages demanded one thing: unlink Pikula’s Apple ID from the stolen iPhone, which would make the device easier for thieves to unlock, resell or strip for value.
About 71,000 phones were reported stolen in London last year, down from a record 81,000 in 2024, but the scale of the thefts has kept residents and tourists on edge.
The Metropolitan Police have shifted focus toward international networks that move stolen phones to China, where they are sold on the black market.
As police roll out facial recognition to catch phone thieves, are Londoners trading their privacy for a false sense of security?
With police demanding a 'kill switch,' why can’t tech giants simply make stolen phones worthless and end this global crime wave overnight?