Found a way to prevent phone thefts in London

The issue of phone theft on the streets of the British capital is quite acute, with criminals becoming even more agile, committing their crimes on e-bikes and mopeds. According to 2023 statistics, over 52,000 such cases were recorded, with over 41,000 involving force. The London police have announced a new method to combat this urban scourge. Afisha.London asked IT expert Dmitry Bagrov, a contributor to Forbes, Financial Times, and The Guardian, to evaluate the effectiveness of this law enforcement initiative.

The police note that the simplest way to reduce these crimes is to make theft completely unprofitable for thieves. The police department met with representatives of leading tech companies to discuss the possibility of the police remotely blocking phones after a crime is reported.

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“The concept is not new and quite simple: once a phone is reported stolen, a shutdown button can be activated remotely, making the device unusable. For example, Apple and Google have long offered remote lock and data wipe functions through services like ‘Find My iPhone’ and ‘Find My Device.’ Now the new initiative aims to take a step forward by integrating existing capabilities into law enforcement systems for rapid response,” explains Dmitry Bagrov.

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“It is necessary to develop secure APIs that will allow the police to activate the shutdown button without violating user privacy. The process must ensure that only authorized personnel can activate this feature to prevent abuse. In addition, clear legal frameworks and user consent mechanisms are needed to balance privacy concerns with the need for security,” the expert believes.

If these points are met, the initiative has many advantages. The shutdown button can significantly reduce the incentive for criminals to steal mobile phones, which will then be impossible to sell. While the technology is not yet in use, read Afisha.London’s separate article on how to protect yourself from theft on the streets of London.

Cover photo: Clique Images / Unsplash

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