Nearly two-fifths of robberies in London last year were for mobile phones, it has emerged, as police warned of rising thefts and insisted technology companies must design out the crime.
Nearly 70% of all thefts in London last year related to mobile phones, through offences such as pick pocketing and taking them from people’s bags and pub tables.
Police hope mobile phone makers will repeat the innovations that made car thefts harder, with industry and law enforcement working together.
Rowley said: “The current practice of allowing stolen mobiles to be re-registered by new users within the phone industry inadvertently enables a criminal market which drives robbery, thefts and violent offending in London.
“We need partners to step up to the plate and work alongside us to break this cycle of violence fuelled by the ability of mobile phones to be re-purposed and sold on in this way.
Khan added: “The spiralling cost of living threatens to exacerbate the drivers of violence and robberies, which we know disproportionately impact young people.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Nearly two-fifths of robberies in London last year were for mobile phones, it has emerged, as police warned of rising thefts and insisted technology companies must design out the crime.
Nearly 70% of all thefts in London last year related to mobile phones, through offences such as pick pocketing and taking them from people’s bags and pub tables.
Police hope mobile phone makers will repeat the innovations that made car thefts harder, with industry and law enforcement working together.
Rowley said: “The current practice of allowing stolen mobiles to be re-registered by new users within the phone industry inadvertently enables a criminal market which drives robbery, thefts and violent offending in London.
“We need partners to step up to the plate and work alongside us to break this cycle of violence fuelled by the ability of mobile phones to be re-purposed and sold on in this way.
Khan added: “The spiralling cost of living threatens to exacerbate the drivers of violence and robberies, which we know disproportionately impact young people.
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