What can phone makers and users do to combat device theft?

The Government has promised to crack down on mobile phone theft after figures showed a sharp rise in incidents last year.

The Home Office plans to call a summit with tech companies to discuss ways to combat the issue which would build on existing anti-theft features already available.

Here is a closer look at the issue, and how smartphone users can better protect themselves.

– Why has the Government spoken out on the issue?

According to data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales, an estimated 78,000 people had phones or bags snatched from them in the street in the year to March 2024, compared with 31,000 such incidents in the same period 12 months earlier.

In response, the Home Office said it will call a summit of tech companies and phone makers to look at new ways to tackle the problem and build on existing anti-theft features that have already been introduced on many devices.

– What tools are already on smartphones to help users if their phone is stolen?

Many smartphones already include a range of tools to help users protect their personal data and even track their handset in the event it is stolen.

Apple’s Find Devices tool enables users to remotely lock their iPhone and other mobile devices should they be stolen, while continuing to track their location.

iPhone users can also use a feature called Stolen Device Protection, which when turned on requires additional security measures to access key security and personal data settings if the phone senses it is away from a familiar location such as home or work.

This feature requires biometric authentication through a face scan or fingerprint to get through the additional layers of security, so can protect personal information even if the person with the phone knows the passcode.

In addition, earlier this year Google announced the introduction of new AI-powered tools, including something called Theft Detection Lock, which automatically locks a phone when the various sensors detect motion patterns associated with theft – such as the jolt of someone on a bike snatching a phone before moving off at high speed.

– What other tools could be developed to help combat the issue?

As well as fighting theft, the Government has said it wants to disrupt the stolen mobile phone market.

Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said phone companies need to ensure that any stolen devices can be “quickly, easily and permanently disabled, rather than re-registered for sale on the second-hand market”.

She said this will be discussed at a meeting with tech firms.

The Metropolitan Police urge people to never leave their mobile devices unattended, out of sight or on a table.

They say people should be aware of their surroundings and only use a mobile phone when it feels safe to do so, and to put it away when they have finished.

Specifically in relation to street robbery, the Met encourage the public to look confident because this makes someone less likely to be targeted, and to move with purpose – planning routes in advance and keeping mobile devices out of sight.