London Became a Global Hub for Phone Theft. Now We Know Why. (nytimes.com)
- Reference: 0179844198
- News link: https://news.slashdot.org/story/25/10/21/1557254/london-became-a-global-hub-for-phone-theft-now-we-know-why
- Source link: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/world/europe/london-police-phone-theft-china-gang.html
[2]non-paywalled source
that hollowed out British policing in the 2010s, the arrival of electric bikes that made theft easy, and a lucrative black market in China where stolen British phones retain full functionality. The Metropolitan Police discovered an industrial-scale operation in December when officers traced a woman's iPhone to a Heathrow warehouse on Christmas Eve. Boxes labeled as batteries and bound for Hong Kong contained almost 1,000 stolen iPhones. The police arrested two men in their thirties in September as suspected ringleaders of a group that sent up to 40,000 stolen phones to China.The epidemic took root after Conservative-led austerity measures reduced police numbers and budgets. In 2017 the Metropolitan Police announced it would stop investigating low-level crimes to focus resources on serious violence and sexual offenses. Thieves on rented electric bikes began mounting sidewalks to snatch phones at high speed while wearing balaclavas and hoods. Police data shows only 495 people were charged out of 106,000 phones reported stolen between March 2024 and February 2025. Thieves earn up to $401 per device. The phones sell for up to $5,000 in China because Chinese network providers do not subscribe to the international blacklist for stolen devices.
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/world/europe/london-police-phone-theft-china-gang.html
[2] https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/london-became-a-global-hub-for-phone-theft-here-s-what-s-behind-it-125101900061_1.html
Hard to believe (Score:5, Insightful)
From the summary: "The phones sell for up to $5,000 in China because Chinese network providers do not subscribe to the international blacklist for stolen devices."
I have a difficult time believing that sort of price. Frankly I have a difficult time believing even half the price of a brand new phone for a used phone regardless of provenance, unless the stolen phones lack Chinese government spyware or unless the Chinese government heavily restricts the purchase of phones to the point that getting a new device is next to impossible.
Re: (Score:1)
China probably has the eSIM configuration tool. Heck, half of our shopping mall phone kiosks have it too.
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I assumed in the modern era that most phones would be locked, and since manufacturers don't make parts available at reasonable prices that they'd be harvested for parts. Given how much OEMs like Apple charge for parts I could definitely imagine parting out a phone could be more valuable than a used device.
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Cop math. Like when they would claim a single weed plant was $100,000 in street value.
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And I have a hard time believing that Apple (or whomever) can't brick them remotely, even when in China, after they've been reported stolen. As soon as they connect for an update, the IMEI identifies it and bingo, drop a (virtual) brick on it. Why TF NOT ?!?
iCloud lock doesn't work in China? (Score:5, Interesting)
Per the article, participation in the international blacklist is optional. But doesn't that only control whether a phone can be activated on the cellular network? Aren't victims anlso able to iCloud-lock their phone, which would prevent the new owners from using any of the essential "Apple" features?
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I have yet to see an "Apple feature" on my wife's iToy which wasn't more of an obstruction than a useful tool, much less one that we would consider "essential". Hell, I just wish the frelling thing would keep the "Don't synch with iCloud" setting that we have to reset every six weeks or so, every time she starts getting spammed with "iCloud out of storage, buy more" we know that we have to redo the setting and delete everything from the stupid cloud account yet again.
Re: (Score:2)
I can see several potential explanations: 1) Chinese people can factory-reset iphones through accomplices who have access to original Apple tools and software from the Apple factory in China;
2) The network is hermetic and there is no connection between the Apple user accounts used in China and elsewhere;
3) Apple does not want to interfere with an accepted practice in China implicitly approved by the CCP. (They saw what happened to NVidia.)
Steal from the best. (Score:3)
> The phones sell for up to $5,000 in China because Chinese network providers do not subscribe to the international blacklist for stolen devices.
Kind of ironic in a country that makes the darn things.
Re: (Score:2)
And not really believable, especially since much better domestically manufactured phones are available for 10% of that price.
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> Kind of ironic in a country that makes the darn things.
Wonder what it's like in a Chinese Wal-Mart? "Hey! I made that yesterday!"
Let's not forget (Score:5, Insightful)
Let's not forget arresting 30 people a day for offensive speech crimes.
[1]https://freespeechunion.org/po... [freespeechunion.org]
[1] https://freespeechunion.org/police-make-30-arrests-a-day-for-offensive-online-messages
Re: (Score:2)
no, no.... "Conservative-led austerity measures" is what NY Times says. Not a bunch of police showing up on people's doors to talk about "non-crime hate incidents".
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What if two things can be true?
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From your cited source:
> As director of public prosecutions, Sir Keir Starmer issued Crown Prosecution Service guidance stating that offensive social media messages should only lead to prosecution in “extreme circumstances”.
> Analysis of government data shows that the number of convictions and sentencings for communications offences has dramatically decreased over the past decade.
From elsewhere:
[1]The Met police have said they will no longer investigate non-crime hate incidents as the Father Ted co-creator Graham Linehan was informed that no further action would be taken after his arrest over social media posts. [theguardian.com]
Personally I'm not sure about that one since he literally called for violence against trans people, but it is what it is.
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/oct/20/father-ted-creator-graham-linehan-says-police-taking-no-further-action-over-trans-posts
Re: (Score:2, Flamebait)
Now if they had been protesting genocide outside the Israeli embassy they'd be prosecuted to the end of time.
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Well, you have to question the morals of a Hamas supporter, don't you? I mean if you're chanting things like "from the river to the sea", how are you not advocating for genocide yourself? It's not like the Palestinians wouldn't wipe all the Jewish people off the map if they had the chance.
Re: (Score:2)
How is saying "From the River to the Sea all people will be free" imply a genocide? You hasbara-spouters always leave off the second half of that phrase. Really, if you spend two seconds thinking about it claiming that the only way that Jews can live in peace is if they eliminate every non-believer in their territory is quite anti-Semitic. In the rest of the world, including places like Iran and Indonesia, Jews live just fine as standard members of society with minimal to no friction. Only in Israel do
They have more important things (Score:3)
like mean tweets and misgendering than actual crime to investigate.
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But I look forward to the first message blaming the standard bogeyman, i.e. Sadiq Khan, iinstead.
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And the animals are fluffier too. :-)
Re: (Score:2)
Not these Australian animals: [1]Going to Australia [reddit.com]
[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/t8g2l/going_to_australia/
Conversion Error Shows How Shit New York Times Is. (Score:5, Insightful)
the phones are NOT selling for $5,000
iPhones can go for around ¥5,000 (US$700)
Accuracy matters. This story has little and thus lacks credibility.
Currency conversions (Score:4, Insightful)
> the phones are NOT selling for $5,000
> iPhones can go for around ¥5,000 (US$700)
Oofda, that was some brainfart-induced whiplash. I'm used to seeing ¥ used for Japanese yen, not Chinese yuan / Renminbi, and at first I was gobsmacked at what had happened to the exchange rate. Then in my foggy morning brain, I rediscovered this thing called "Context" and realized I was tuned into the wrong channel.
JPY ¥5,000 ~ USD $32.91, at ¥1 ~ $0.0066 (two-thirds of a penny)
RMB ¥5,000 ~ USD $702.02, at ¥1 ~ $0.14
... I should go get some coffee.
China has no rule of law (Score:2)
As long as the criminal gangs mostly hurt internationally and don't threaten the government, Chinese totalitarians not only allow but encourage such behavior.
Re: (Score:2)
Way to tell us you only read the MSM, without just coming out and saying it. I bet you think Russia's economy is about to collapse too.
Defunding (Score:2)
> after Conservative-led austerity measures reduced police numbers and budgets
So defunding police is bad when iphone safety is jeopardized.
mmmkay.
From a [1]BBC story [bbc.com] about the "two men in their thirties"
> The men, both Afghan nationals in their 30s...
Big surprised face, again---> :|
[1] https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20vlpwrzwdo
Defund the police (Score:5, Insightful)
All joking aside, a few years ago defunding the police was a policy that was seriously pushed in many cities throughout the US. A few actually tried it. Not only did it have the rather obvious effect of increasing crime rates, but it invariably hurt the communities it was intended to help the most. It just pays to keep a skeptical attitude about all new policy initiatives, no matter who is putting them forward. Most of the policies we currently have, though imperfect, were created for some kind of reason. It's not stupid to demand change, but it's stupid to demand change when you have no idea what problem the current policies were created to solve. I'm not sure why we have to keep learning this lesson the hard way.
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Did you even do any searching yourself? The wikipedia page lists [1]several cities that tried it to various degrees [wikipedia.org].
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defund_the_police#Cities
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Defunding the police doesn't mean what you think it does.
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The wikipedia page has a [1]pretty good summary [wikipedia.org] of what it means.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defund_the_police
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Yeah, to be more specific "defunding police", when used by those advocating for it, meant diverting funding for police to mental health services or withdrawing funding from police departments that are regularly assaulting, maiming, or even killing the people they are supposed to be protecting. It really is just an extreme level of police reform that is advocated in particularly bad situations that do exist in some parts of the US.
Re: (Score:2)
> All joking aside, a few years ago defunding the police was a policy that was seriously pushed in many cities throughout the US. A few actually tried it. Not only did it have the rather obvious effect of increasing crime rates
Except you are incorrect about the result. [1]https://247wallst.com/special-... [247wallst.com]
The results are not cut and dry in either direction but the cities that did the best are the ones that used to the money to help the poor. It's almost like failing to address to need of the poor is a surefire way to drive crime. Of course, that kind of insight requires critical thinking which is something you may not be familiar with.
[1] https://247wallst.com/special-report/2023/12/16/22-cities-that-defunded-police-and-their-current-crime-rates/
Shipping batteries into China? (Score:1)
Seems customs should have caught this a long time ago.
Re: Shipping batteries into China? (Score:2)
Seeing has how many containers are actually checked, its not hard to spend a few dollars piggy backing on a legit company, the right harbor authority, and have them look the other way. The real point of interest is (or lack there of) is the unwillingness to the international blacklist for phones. That is a government decision on making money through coruption which Apple as well as every legit phone manufacturer should see as a reason to move production from China permanently.
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They have to be careful of their routing for the shipping containers, Hong Kong and Dubai, two of the busiest ports in the world, check 100% of containers. In the US it's still below 5%, or the same percentage as in 2000. This is the reason why most of the illegal drugs entering the country come in cargo containers (plus the almost trivial cost of suborning Customs officers), as well as tens of thousands of immigrants. Put a ton of coke in a container or semi trailer and there's a 95% chance it will be d
$5000 iPhone? (Score:3)
This entire article is suspect.
iPhones in China cost about $1000 or less.
Why would anyone pay $5000 for and used dodgy iPhone when you can get a new one for much less?
Why doesn't Apple block them? (Score:2)
For Android phone producers I'll just chalk it up to laziness, but Apple would be easily able to block phones themselves.
Has China ordered them to allow stolen phones?
Budget cuts hollowed out British policing? (Score:2)
Bullshit. British police have been very busy policing thought crimes, hate speech, and mean tweets. They are nothing more than hall monitors. If you want to stop crime then fire the current lot of nannies with a badge, staff up with real law enforcement officers, and go after actual criminals.
This is like SF (Score:2, Informative)
Theft of anything under $800 was decriminalized.
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
which is exactly how 'our' authorities skew the stats so they look better while doing worse, welcome to authoritarianism
it's all a classist whitewash
Re:This is like SF (Score:5, Insightful)
No, this is classic conservative politics, first reduce the budget for services in order to give tax breaks which will get you reelected, then when things go to shit because there's no money blame the liberals for (excuse of your choice).
People as a group are stupid. They elect people who promise to reduce their taxes, then when taxes are lower and the streets are full of potholes and crime is on the rise because there aren't enough attorneys to prosecute offenders they don't understand why.
Taxes are the admission price for living in civilization. Want clean water, food and meds that won't kill you, bridges that don't collapse, reliable electricity, and for your shit to disappear when you flush then you're going to have to pay taxes. Don't want to pay taxes? Go move to Somalia. I personally LIKE civilization, and vote for pretty much every tax hike on the ballot.
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No no, they were following another agenda: "Defund the police", and that way before George Floyd.
Of course the Daily Nail positions them as the party of Law and Order.
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I'd recommend you log out of The Daily Caller and Free Republic and never go back. None of that is true.
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I'm wondering if you voted for police pay hikes or voted to defund them?
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If we had been given the choice (which we weren't in the Puget Sound region) I'd have voted to defund SWAT and the purchase of military war toys entirely, and raise funding for local community policing and have officers who actually walk a beat again. Oh, and get rid of the frelling Israeli contract trainers teaching cops to respond to any resistance with overwhelming violence. (They only had one of those training sessions here, but other places in the country still bring them in regularly.)
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
The fake number you mean is $950, and this is provably false - it was not decriminalized. [1]https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.36249VK [afp.com]
[1] https://factcheck.afp.com/doc.afp.com.36249VK
Re: (Score:2)
It works where I am as well, that AC should tell us where he is trying to follow that link, that would give us a clue who is blocking [1]https://factcheck.afp.com/ [afp.com]
[1] https://factcheck.afp.com/
Re: This is like SF (Score:2)
Not dead, just slashdotted. Or running on AWS.
Re:Okay (Score:5, Informative)
Thanks for illustrating how completely made up shit to push a political agenda happens on both sides of the Atlantic.
Re: (Score:3)
I live right south of San Francisco so I want to note for the record: I, at least, do actually believe you're making shit up.
Re: (Score:2)
Well, since you're an AC you could live in Rio de Janiero and claim you live wherever the frack you want. Convenient.
Re: (Score:2)
Not all of us are ashamed of our opinions, even the ones we change over time. YMMV
Re: (Score:2)
You do know that prison was closed because it was incredibly expensive to operate. No? Ignorance is bliss I guess.
Re:This is like SF (Score:5, Insightful)
It was not.
Basically the self-professed right wing "party of law and order" decided to slash the budget for the police and justice system.
Also don't forget that the MET are also useless dickbags who would rather mass arrest grannies holding signs because it's easy than arrest criminals that actually matter. No, they aren't obliged to, other police forces have chosen not to. Every experience from the MET has been neutral, mediocre or just plain bad. I've actually seen Simpsons level shit play out before my eyes in real time.
But the main fault lies with the right wing Tory party.
Re: (Score:3)
so this should be fixed ricky ticky, no?
The Tories slashed spending, and eviscerated investment at a time of record low interest rates, shat on the economy with Brexit, then did it again with Truss then made a bunch of unfunded legislation as their last "fuck you" act in parliament before losing the election. It's going to take decades to fix a mess that was decades in the making. It might not really be fixable. Not all Tory messes are.
Not that Starmer is up to fixing it, but that's another problem entirely
Re: This is like SF (Score:2)
It's almost like slashing public spending and leaving the nearest trading bloc is a shockingly shortsighted idea
Re: (Score:2)
Good luck with that, over a quarter of the FBI's agents, and up to 40% in the larger offices, are assigned to arrest those dangerous dishwashers, landscapers and housekeepers who don't have a work permit now. Apparently the Feds are more interested in restoring those high-paying jobs for strawberry pickers and burger flippers to "Real 'MURKINS", since crime is at the lowest level now that it's been in decades.