Over 80,000 Mobile Phones Stolen in London Last Year
More Than 220 Devices Stolen Per Day
Most Smuggled to China, Earning Up to 400,000 Won Per Phone
London, England has gained the unfortunate reputation as a 'hotspot' for mobile phone theft. The photo is a reference image to aid understanding of the article and is unrelated to the main text. Pixabay
London, England has gained the unfortunate reputation as a 'hotspot' for mobile phone theft. According to the New York Times on October 15 (local time), approximately 80,000 mobile phones were reported stolen in London last year, marking an increase of more than 25% compared to the previous year (64,000). While the overall crime rate is on the decline, mobile phone theft has surged dramatically, accounting for 70% of all theft cases in London.
Experts analyze that a combination of factors contributed to this trend, including police budget cuts and staff shortages resulting from austerity policies in the 2010s, as well as a weakening crackdown on minor offenses. In addition, the rapid rise in the use of electric bicycles since 2018 has provided a quick means of escape, making such crimes a daily occurrence. In central London, there have been repeated incidents where masked offenders snatch mobile phones from pedestrians' hands and flee on electric bicycles.
"Not Just Simple Pickpocketing, but International Smuggling Rings"... Most Devices End Up in China
Mobile phone theft has now evolved beyond simple street crime into an international criminal network. In December last year, a victim used the 'Find My iPhone' feature to track their device to a warehouse near Heathrow Airport, where 1,000 stolen mobile phones were discovered in a cargo box bound for Hong Kong. Following this, police deployed firearms and narcotics investigation teams to pursue the case, uncovering evidence that tens of thousands of stolen mobile phones had been exported to China.
Investigations revealed that the criminal organizations operated in three stages: those who commit thefts using electric bicycles; intermediaries who purchase stolen mobile phones and distribute them to secondhand shops; and groups responsible for smuggling the devices overseas. The Metropolitan Police Service recently raided a secondhand mobile phone store in North London, seizing around 2,000 stolen mobile phones and 200,000 pounds (approximately 340 million won) in cash.
London, England has gained the unfortunate reputation as a 'hotspot' for mobile phone theft. The photo is a stock image to aid understanding of the article and is unrelated to the content. Pixabay
It was found that the stolen mobile phones are mainly funneled into China and Algeria. In particular, in China, the latest iPhones are traded for up to 5,000 dollars (about 7 million won), and it is estimated that criminal organizations make profits of up to 300 pounds (about 400,000 won) per device. Professor Jos Wright of Oxford University explained, "Since major Chinese telecommunications companies have not joined the international blacklist system, stolen mobile phones blocked in the UK can still function normally in China," adding, "This is a key driver behind international smuggling."
Although the overall theft rate in London has decreased, mobile phone theft alone has soared. Last year, it accounted for 70% of theft cases, and out of 106,000 reported stolen phones, only 495 cases led to prosecution. Experts pointed out that the effective suspension of minor offense crackdowns, due to police personnel and budget cuts under the Conservative government's austerity policies in the 2010s, was a major cause. Additionally, the rapid spread of electric bicycles since 2018 has made them the primary tool for thieves, making it more difficult for police to pursue suspects.
The Metropolitan Police Service has recently stepped up enforcement, recovering more than 4,000 stolen mobile phones and working to dismantle illegal trading networks. The police warned, "Mobile phones are now no different from cash as targets for crime," urging citizens to avoid using their phones carelessly on the street. Professor Lawrence Sherman of Cambridge University cautioned, "If a mobile phone is like a 1,000-pound wallet, walking around with it in your hand is exposing yourself to criminals."
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