Why Phone Theft Continues Despite Apple and Google Anti-Theft Measures

We know that cell phone theft is in decline, and we also know that anti-theft measures put into place by Apple and Google are partly the reason for that decline. A look at the stats reveals that about 3.1 million phones were stolen in 2013. That number dropped to 2.1 million in 2014, as the use of so-called “kill switches” came into practice.

But, while cell phone theft is declining, it still happens quite frequently. After all, more than 2 million stolen phones in a given year is still a lot of theft. Why are thieves continuing to target phones, even after the implementation of kill switches?

Here’s a look at 3 reasons why cell phone theft continues, as well as information on who steals phones and where stolen phones end up.

1. Phone Parts Have Value

Cell phones don’t have to work to hold value. In fact, some specific smartphone parts are incredibly valuable. For example, mobiledefenders.com sells iPhone X screens for $282.99 and screens for the Samsung Note 8 for $249.

Given the expense of replacing certain cell phones parts, and the value of even the raw materials that are used to construct smartphones, there are plenty of financial incentives for thieves to target phones even with the reality of kill switches.

2. A Lack of Locking

If a phone is unlocked, it’s highly valuable to a thief. If and when a thief comes across an unlocked phone, he or she can delete the user’s email and data and get full value on the open market.

Apple recently revealed some pretty incredible statistics, including the fact that 89% of iPhone users employ either fingerprint or numeric code ID to unlock their phones. That’s a high percentage, but it also means that 11% of users do not lock their phones.

If a thief steals an iPhone from someone in that 11%, the thief can get a nice haul when selling the phone. For example, here at Swift Tech Buy, we offer up to $637 for an unlocked iPhone X.

3. Security Feature Gaps

It’s nice to have built-in security features. But, unfortunately, these features aren’t always as effective as they should be.

For example, Google’s Factory Reset Protection (FRP) is designed to keep others from using a device without permission. But FRP is surprisingly easy to hack, with some people offering to bypass Google’s security feature for as little as $10 on the black market. Similarly, Apple’s Find My Phone security feature can be hacked in some cases, including when a phone is left unlocked.

Who Buys Stolen Phones?

There’s a thriving market for stolen cell phones, sadly. Pawnshops are known to buy cell phones without asking in-depth questions about the phones’ origins. You can also visit Facebook’s marketplace to find people advertising to buy and sell stolen cell phones. And Craig’s List is another website where stolen cell phones are often bought and sold.

Both pawnshops and websites offer thieves the anonymity they need to sell stolen phones without scrutiny and without much of a paper trail.

Where Do Stolen Phones End Up?

The vast majority of stolen cell phones end up overseas, where they can be put to use without worrying about the blacklist database for stolen phones that exists here in the United States. If the phones aren’t shipped overseas, they might be broken down for parts and used in repairs.

Sell an Old Phone the Right Way

If you have an old phone and want to sell it the right way — legitimately and legally — take advantage of our services here at Swift Tech Buy. We buy old cell phones in exchange for quick cash that you can put toward buying your next device.

Are you interested in selling an old phone? Getting started is fast and easy.