Thieves snatched his phone in London - it was in China a month later

In April, Akara Etteh was leaving the Holborn tube station in London when he became a victim of phone theft. On that Saturday morning, he was checking his phone when a thief on an electric bike snatched it from his hands and sped away. Akara attempted to chase the thief, but he was unable to catch up. This incident is part of a larger trend, as phone thefts in England and Wales have significantly increased over the past year. The police have acknowledged the problem, stating that they are working to target the criminals responsible for these thefts. However, they also admit that they cannot simply arrest their way out of the issue. The police believe that phone manufacturers and technology companies have a crucial role to play in addressing this growing problem. Many victims of phone theft have shared their experiences, highlighting the emotional and financial impact of losing their devices. Some have lost irreplaceable photos, while others have had thousands of pounds stolen from their accounts. For Akara, the situation was particularly frustrating because he was able to track his stolen phone's location but felt powerless to retrieve it. After returning home, he activated the lost mode on his iPhone 13, which prevented the thief from accessing its contents. He also used the Find My iPhone feature on his laptop to monitor his phone's whereabouts. Almost immediately, he received a notification indicating that his phone was in Islington, a neighborhood in London. Over the next eight days, he noticed that his phone was pinging in various locations across north London. In a decision he later regretted, Akara decided to visit two of the locations where his phone had been detected. Fueled by adrenaline and anger, he felt a sense of risk as he searched for his device. Although he did not confront anyone, he sensed that he was being watched and ultimately returned home. Akara expressed his frustration, stating, 'The phone is expensive. We work hard to earn that money, to be able to buy the handset, and someone else says screw that. ' In May, just over a month after the theft, Akara checked Find My iPhone again and was shocked to discover that his phone had traveled all the way to Shenzhen, China. This city is known for its technology industry and is often referred to as China's Silicon Valley. It is not uncommon for stolen phones to end up in Shenzhen, where they can be sold or used again. After his phone was stolen, Akara saw police officers nearby and reported the incident to them. The officers were aware of the ongoing issue of phone thefts in the area and encouraged him to file a report online. A few days later, he received an email from the Metropolitan Police stating that the case was closed because it was unlikely they would identify the thief. Akara submitted the information and photos he had gathered from the locations where his phone had been tracked, but the police did not take any further action. The Metropolitan Police did not comment on Akara's specific case but mentioned that they were focusing their resources on areas with high rates of phone theft, such as Westminster, Lambeth, and Newham. Many other individuals have reached out to the BBC to share their own experiences with phone theft. One man, James O'Sullivan, reported losing over £25,000 when thieves used his stolen phone to make unauthorized purchases. Another victim, Katie Ashworth, had her phone snatched in a park along with her watch and debit card. She expressed her heartbreak over losing the last photos she had of her mother before she became ill. Katie noted that the police did not follow up with her, despite having information about the thieves' movements. The police simply advised her to check online marketplaces and local second-hand shops for her stolen phone. The police face significant challenges in combating phone thefts due to the speed at which criminals operate. PC Mat Evans, who has worked on this issue for over a decade, explained that stolen phones are often sold within hours of being taken. He emphasized the importance of reporting these crimes to the police, as they cannot investigate what they are not aware of. Sometimes, catching just one thief can lead to a significant decrease in crime rates. However, the issue of phone theft is not solely a policing problem. Commander Richard Smith from the National Police Chiefs' Council stated that they cannot rely solely on arrests to solve this issue. He emphasized that manufacturers and the tech industry must also take action to reduce the opportunities for criminals to profit from stolen phones. Currently, stolen phones can be tracked and have their data erased through services like Find My iPhone and Find My Device for Android. However, the government is pushing for manufacturers to ensure that stolen phones can be permanently disabled to prevent them from being sold on the second-hand market. Police chiefs are also tasked with gathering more intelligence on who is stealing phones and where these stolen devices end up. The rising demand for second-hand phones, both in the UK and abroad, is believed to be a significant factor driving the increase in thefts. The Home Office plans to host a summit where tech companies and phone manufacturers will be invited to discuss innovations that could help prevent illegal phone trading. PC Evans noted that while there is no simple solution to the problem, improved tracking technology would be immensely beneficial for law enforcement. He remarked that current phone tracking capabilities are adequate but not as advanced as they could be. Samsung has stated that it is working closely with key stakeholders and authorities to address the issue of mobile phone theft and related crimes.