Gang suspected of sending up to 40K stolen UK iPhones to China
13 hours ago
- #phone-theft
- #law-enforcement
- #organized-crime
- Police dismantled an international gang suspected of smuggling up to 40,000 stolen UK phones to China.
- 18 suspects were arrested, and over 2,000 stolen devices were recovered in the UK's largest phone theft operation.
- The gang may be responsible for exporting up to 40% of all phones stolen in London.
- The investigation began after a victim tracked their stolen iPhone to a Heathrow warehouse on Christmas Eve.
- Phones were found wrapped in foil to avoid detection, with shipments intercepted en route to Hong Kong.
- Three men, including Afghan and Indian nationals, were charged with handling stolen goods.
- Phone thefts in London have nearly tripled since 2020, with 80,588 stolen in 2024.
- Tourist hotspots like the West End and Westminster are prime locations for phone snatching.
- Stolen iPhones are resold in China for up to £4,000 due to high demand for internet-enabled devices.
- Criticism of police response includes lack of action despite victims tracking stolen phones in real-time.
- The Met claims a 13% reduction in personal robberies and a 14% drop in thefts this year.
- London Mayor Sadiq Khan urges mobile manufacturers to make stolen devices unusable.