Phone thefts fall across London as Apple and Met Police make stolen devices harder to use
Mobile phone thefts are falling across London as the Metropolitan Police works with Apple to make stolen devices harder to reactivate and sell. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said phone thefts in Westminster are now running at close to half the level recorded a year ago. Across London, thefts and robberies involving mobile phones fell by 14,000 in the 12 months from June 2025 to May 2026, an 18 per cent reduction on the previous year.
As police step up efforts against organised phone theft, recent enforcement action targeting stolen phones and e-bikes in Kilburn shows how officers are focusing on the networks that help drive the trade. The strategy also sits alongside wider measures being tested across London, including the use of forensic spray to help identify and track offenders linked to e-bike crime.
Police say improvements that make stolen phones harder to reuse are already affecting the criminal market behind the offences. According to Sir Mark, around 80 per cent of stolen phones were being reactivated only a few months ago. In recent weeks that figure has fallen to about 20 per cent.
The Met has started sharing data with Apple to better understand what happens to phones after they are stolen. Officers hope the information will help track whether devices are reactivated, dismantled for parts or exported overseas.
The force is also expanding enforcement activity across the capital with drones being used to follow suspected phone thieves using e-bikes, while targeted operations continue against businesses suspected of handling stolen devices.
Westminster remains one of the areas most affected by phone theft. Mobile phones account for between 69 and 72 per cent of theft-from-the-person and personal robbery offences each week. Even so, the borough has recorded a 45.8 per cent reduction so far this calendar year.
The first five months of 2026 also saw 6,700 fewer phone thefts and robberies across London, representing a fall of 20.6 per cent compared with the same period last year.
Sir Mark has continued to press technology companies and government to take further action. Earlier this year, the Met called for stronger anti-theft protections, wider access to IMEI data and measures that would make stolen phones unusable.
Phone theft remains a significant challenge across London. The Met says an international trade in stolen devices continues to generate millions of dollars, while investigators have identified online adverts offering children hundreds of pounds to steal premium smartphones.
Phone theft remains a concern across many parts of London. What changes have you noticed in your area? Read more London crime and policing coverage at EyeOnLondon.
Follow us on:
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest videos and updates!
We value your thoughts! Share your feedback and help us make EyeOnLondon even better!
