Phone thefts in London drop 18% as tech firms step up security

London has seen a significant drop in phone thefts after tech companies introduced new security features that make stolen handsets harder to resell.

Between June 2025 and May 2026, the number of thefts involving phones fell by 14,000 — an 18% reduction. In Westminster, where phones are involved in around 70% of street thefts, the drop has been even steeper at 45.8%.

The Metropolitan Police has been working with Apple to share data on stolen devices and track whether they're being reactivated. Early results show that only a minority of stolen phones are now being successfully reconnected to networks, making them far less valuable to thieves.

Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the approach is simple: if stolen phones can't be reactivated, their value collapses, and so does the incentive to steal them. Samsung and Google are also making similar security improvements.

The success shows how collaboration between police and tech companies can make a real difference in cutting street crime and protecting people's property.