London’s Metropolitan Police Service (Met Police) has accused Apple of neglecting the national database of stolen devices, which allows thieves to trade in stolen iPhones for credit toward new products. This accusation comes after an alarming rise in iPhone thefts in London, with over 80,000 phones reported stolen last year, up from 64,000 in 2023. The police estimate the cost of replacing these stolen phones, borne by users and their insurers, at a staggering £50 million in 2024. Over three-quarters of these devices are believed to end up abroad, often being stripped for parts. The Met Police’s claim highlights a potential loophole in Apple’s trade-in system, which allows individuals to receive credit of up to £670 for an old iPhone. The issue lies in Apple’s lack of monitoring of the NMPR database, which is used to return recovered phones to their owners. This oversight enables stolen devices to re-enter the system, fueling the epidemic of phone thefts in the city.
Apple has responded to these claims, outlining the measures it has implemented to combat phone theft. The company introduced a stolen device protection feature that prevents criminals from wiping phones even if they know the passcode, and a setting that locks iPhones to the original owner’s Apple account. Apple is also considering blocking the use of a phone’s IMEI number once it is registered as stolen, a unique 15-digit identifier that can link a phone to an overseas mobile network. However, Apple has warned that this measure could be misused by individuals impersonating owners and making false theft reports. The company also noted that such measures would not prevent stolen phones from being dismantled for parts.
The Met Police’s accusation comes amidst Apple’s urging the police service to focus on “traditional policing” by following up on theft reports made by the company. However, Apple has claimed that the Met Police are not fully investigating these thefts, with Apple executive Gary Davis stating that the police are not sending requests for stolen devices, which is a crucial part of traditional policing. This discrepancy highlights the complex relationship between Apple and law enforcement, and the challenges in curbing phone theft.