Redazione RHC : 10 October 2025 09:55
London police announced that Operation Echosteep has uncovered and dismantled a gang responsible for mass iPhone thefts. Investigators estimate the group is responsible for 40% of all phone thefts in the UK capital over the past year.
In a statement, police said two men in their 30s were arrested in northeast London on September 23. They were charged with trafficking stolen phones and remanded in custody.
According to the BBC , the suspects were two Afghan nationals and a 29-year-old Indian man. Several devices were found in the suspects’ car, and approximately 2,000 phones were found in premises connected to them. Another 30 phones were recovered during searches of 28 homes in London and Hertfordshire.
Additionally, 15 people were arrested on suspicion of robberies and pickpocketing. According to investigators, the group smuggled up to 40,000 phones from the UK over the course of a year, mostly iPhones, which were sold abroad at inflated prices.
Andrew Featherstone , commander of the Metropolitan Police’s anti-theft unit, called the operation the largest in its history . He emphasized that the investigation involved all levels of the criminal network, from street robbers to international smuggling channels. He added that the police are calling on manufacturers, including Apple and Samsung, to step up their efforts to protect devices and users.
According to Mark Gavin, senior investigator for Operation Echosteep, the group targeted iPhones because of their high marketability abroad. In the UK, criminals received up to £300 (about $400) per device , while abroad they could sell them for up to $5,000. The primary destination, he said, was the People’s Republic of China , which is not included in the International Central Register of Equipment Identity, which allows stolen devices to be blocked.
The investigation began in December 2024, after police intercepted a package containing 1,000 iPhones bound for Hong Kong in a warehouse near Heathrow Airport. After examining the evidence, investigators identified the suspects and intercepted additional shipments.
Police footage released showed suspects arrested in homes and cars with stun guns and firearms. Other participants in the operation were monitored by cameras and a helicopter as they snatched phones from passersby on e-bikes. Some devices were wrapped in aluminum foil to hide them from security.
According to the Crime Survey for England and Wales , from March 2024 to March 2025, approximately 78,000 people in England and Wales were victims of street theft, a 153% increase from the previous year. This equates to approximately 200 incidents per day.
During further raids, 11 members of the group that targeted the vans loaded with new iPhone 17s and two suspected money launderers were arrested. One of them was found in possession of £40,000 in cash, 10 phones, two iPads, laptops, and a Rolex watch. It was later discovered that he had taken over 200 flights between London and Algiers over a two-year period.
According to the UK’s National Crime Agency , in addition to China and Algeria, Bulgaria, Dubai, Morocco, and Romania remain the main destinations for stolen phones. The agency notes that stolen devices are increasingly being used not only for resale, but also to steal personal data and bank accounts from their owners.
Redazione