Sadiq Khan sends phone theft warning to Apple and Google
London’s Metropolitan Police have declared open season on phone thieves, announcing a major victory in their year-long war against snatch thefts that has slashed offences by a staggering 10,000 in the capital.
But the force and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan have warned that the thefts won’t stop completely until Apple and Google come to the party.
New figures published on Tuesday (17 February) shows that mobile phone thefts dropped from 81,365 in 2024 to 71,391 last year – a reduction of around 12.3%.
The Met describes the sustained crackdown as the most extensive operation of its kind ever mounted against the crime, which sees victims targeted in busy streets, often by moped-riding gangs or even children lured via social media with cash incentives.
In the past four weeks alone (19 January to 16 February), officers made 248 arrests specifically for phone theft and seized around 770 stolen devices. A further 122 people were arrested in connection with related offences.
High-tech tactics played a starring role: specialist teams deployed drones for aerial surveillance, fast Sur-Ron electric bikes for rapid pursuits, and live facial recognition to spot suspects in hotspots like the West End, where thefts have fallen by 30% since April last year.
“We are relentlessly cracking down on phone thieves and dismantling organised criminal networks at every level – from the pickpockets and phone snatchers operating on our streets, to the handlers who profit from their crimes, right through to the international networks exporting stolen phones overseas,” said Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley.
“Over the past year, we’ve made hundreds of arrests and recovered tens of thousands of stolen devices. That work has meant 10,000 fewer people facing the stress, cost and disruption that comes with having their phone stolen.”
A warning to Apple and Google
Rowley also issued a pointed warning to tech giants Apple and Google, insisting they must step up to prevent stolen phones from being reset, reused or resold.
“Manufacturers and tech companies must do more to stop criminals being able to reset, reuse or resell stolen phones,” he said.
Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan echoed the call, vowing to keep pressing the mobile phone industry.
“We know there is still more to do. Which is why as Mayor I’ll continue to prioritise neighbourhood policing and will continue to push the mobile phone industry to go much further in preventing stolen phones being used, sold and repurposed, building a safer London for everyone.”
