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Stolen iPhones could soon be worth a lot less to thieves
The UK’s Metropolitan Police has reached an agreement with Apple designed to make stolen iPhones harder to resell and less attractive to thieves. The approach combines stronger technical protections with direct data sharing between Apple and law enforcement.
In 2023, about 1.4 million mobile phones were stolen in the US alone. London is reportedly one of the worst cities for phone theft, with around 200 devices stolen every day.
As part of this effort, Apple has strengthened its Stolen Device Protection feature in iOS 26.4, making it harder for thieves to change security settings, factory‑reset a stolen iPhone, or set it up as new.
Previously, thieves with your passcode (or who snatched your iPhone while it was still unlocked) could factory reset it, wiping your account and making the device look new for resale. Stolen Device Protection blocks this, requiring biometric authentication, not just a passcode, to make critical changes.
The Met has started sharing identifiers for reported stolen devices with Apple. In return, Apple can provide data on whether those devices later attempt to reconnect to a network or attempt to be reactivated.
Police say this gives them a better picture of what happens to stolen devices: Are they being switched back on locally? Shipped abroad? Broken down for parts?
Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said Apple believes it has “cracked” the engineering problem. Phone thefts in London have since fallen 18% year-on-year, with Westminster (the capital’s worst-affected borough) down 45.8%.
Given the early signs of success, the Met is pressing for broader changes.
The Commissioner has written to the Home Secretary asking for laws that would require all phone manufacturers and mobile operators to share information about stolen devices and implement measures that make stolen handsets unusable.
As part of that effort, the Met has explicitly said that Samsung and Google are also improving device security to address phone theft, suggesting this will become an industry‑wide expectation rather than an Apple‑only initiative.
Possible pitfalls
From a privacy perspective, it’s important to keep an eye on what data is shared, and who can see it.
Reports so far suggest that Apple and the Met are exchanging device identifiers and high‑level information about whether a stolen phone has attempted to reconnect or be reactivated. In theory, that sounds narrow and purpose‑bound: device X was reported stolen, later tried to come online in country Y, at time Z. There is no public indication that content, contacts, or location histories are being handed over wholesale.
There’s also a risk of someone reporting your phone as stolen. If a device is incorrectly marked as stolen, the protections designed to stop thieves could lock an innocent user out, turning a valuable asset into a brick. Without transparent appeal mechanisms, this is a notable concern.
The measures could also create challenges for recycling initiatives, legitimate repair shops, and refurbishers. They may face additional hurdles when diagnosing, restoring, or reselling devices if anti-theft protections become more restrictive.
Stay safe
Make sure your phone is protected with a strong passcode and biometric security, such as Face ID or a fingerprint.
Enable Apple’s Find My feature, or the Android equivalent, and make sure it is linked to a strong account password.
Keep lock screen notifications to a minimum so thieves cannot quickly access your sensitive information if they get hold of your device.
When buying a used phone, use a reputable seller and make sure the device has been reset by its owner. Complete the initial setup process with the seller present to confirm the phone isn’t locked to someone else’s account or reported stolen.
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