Met Chief Urges Law to Brick Stolen Phones as London Sees 200-300 Snatched Daily
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 11
Met Chief Urges Law to Brick Stolen Phones as London Sees 200-300 Snatched Daily
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 11
Summary
Sir Mark Rowley asked the home secretary to require phone companies to make stolen handsets "unusable bricks" and publish data on whether devices are later reconnected.
200 to 300 phones are stolen each day in London, which accounts for up to three-quarters of mobile thefts in England and Wales, making resale prevention central to cutting the crime.
Apple has already tightened iPhone anti-theft protections, and Rowley said data-sharing with the company shows reactivations have fallen from a majority of stolen phones to a minority.
40,000 stolen phones were sold to China by one gang uncovered in a recent operation, underscoring how London snatches feed an international resale market.
14,000 fewer phone thefts and robberies were recorded between June 2025 and May 2026—an 18% drop—as the Met expanded e-bikes, drones and live facial recognition after criticism over enforcement.
How can a UK law truly 'brick' a stolen phone once it is smuggled and resold in another country?
If stolen phones become worthless bricks, will violent street robberies for other valuables simply increase?
80,000 Phones Stolen in London: The Met’s 2026 Crackdown and the Future of Smartphone Security
Overview
London's Metropolitan Police have launched a bold new era in smartphone security, driven by years of frustration with tech companies' slow action on device theft. After a critical legislative push in June 2026, the Met demanded robust security features like 'bricking'—permanently disabling stolen phones—from manufacturers. This move, strongly supported by 83 percent of the public, shifts the issue from a technical debate to a public safety priority. Backed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, the Met's ultimatum reflects growing impatience and a clear mandate to protect citizens, signaling a major change in how phone theft is tackled in the city.