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Smartphone Theft Drops After Spread of Kill Switches

Posted by Soulskill on from the stated-purposes-and-unstated-purposes dept.

alphadogg writes "Thefts involving smartphones have declined dramatically in three major cities since manufacturers began implementing 'kill switches' that allow the phones to be turned off remotely if they are stolen, authorities said on Tuesday. The number of stolen iPhones dropped by 40 percent in San Francisco and 25 percent in New York in the 12 months after Apple added a kill switch to its devices in September 2013. In London, smartphone theft dropped by half, according to an announcement by officials in the three cities.

9 of 190 comments (clear)

  1. Parts by Arcady13 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I still see lots of people selling phones for "parts" and quietly noting that the device is locked and they somehow don't have the password. So people are obviously still stealing phones without knowing they can't actually use them.

    1. Re:Parts by mlts · · Score: 4, Interesting

      This is definitely lucrative, especially around the time when a new iPhone rev comes out and people start breaking/bending their latest device. Even a disabled phone still has an intact screen/digitizer that can go for a C-note or two until the market starts getting cheaper ones in.

      In one criminal justice class, this is a common MO for high dollar stolen goods... if the item can't be sold, the parts can. For example, a stolen high-end Cannondale bicycle may not be able to be sold as a gestalt due to the serial number being in a police database, but part out the fork, shifting group, brakes, and other items, and a fence can still obtain a good chunk of change from all that even if the frame is never used.

      I'm glad the fact that phones being disabled has helped slow down device theft, but I don't think it will go away anytime soon, just because the demand for parts is always there.

    2. Re:Parts by gstoddart · · Score: 5, Funny

      well, duh, the article says as much, between 50 and 75% of thefts still occur...

      Actually, 100% of all thefts still occur. The total number might be down, though.

      The thefts which don't occur aren't thefts. Unless they occur. They don't keep stats on the thefts which don't occur until they do occur.

      True facts. ;-)

      --
      Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  2. Remember the down side by MetalliQaZ · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Remember the primary concern when these laws were proposed. As soon as criminals discover a way to maliciously activate the kill switch on a non-stolen phone, there will be serious fallout. Imagine the ransomware. There are similar concerns with law enforcement, who have demonstrated a desire to be able to wipe or forever disable a phone they've confiscated (usually one documenting their misdeeds).

    --
    "Here Lies Philip J. Fry, named for his uncle, to carry on his spirit"
    1. Re:Remember the down side by geekmux · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Remember the primary concern when these laws were proposed. As soon as criminals discover a way to maliciously activate the kill switch on a non-stolen phone, there will be serious fallout. Imagine the ransomware. There are similar concerns with law enforcement, who have demonstrated a desire to be able to wipe or forever disable a phone they've confiscated (usually one documenting their misdeeds).

      While it might be difficult to prove, tell me again how this would not be construed as destruction of evidence in every legal way?

      Oh yeah, that's right. Law Enforcement did it. I forgot they don't actually have to abide by the laws they enforce upon the rest of us...silly me.

  3. Re:A better solution... by ColdWetDog · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's funny how states that allow most citizens to carry concealed handguns don't have a problem with bad guys grabbing someone's phone, knocking them over, and trying to run off.

    I wonder if CA, NY, and the rest of them will ever figure out that "An armed society is a polite society."

    Heinleinesque fantasies aside, there is absolutely no reasonable data to suggest that people who carry concealed weapons are any safer than not. For every failed attempted cell phone theft, I would raise you an accidental shooting. Neither are common, however. You want polite? Carry the weapon out in the open. For this, I recommend a nice short sword. Decorative, a wonderful fashion statement. No reloading necessary. Practicing requires aerobic exertion (although not so much strength). Doubles as a cane for emergencies. Bonus points for LED lights on the scabbard (we can start a new craze).

    What's not to like?

    --
    Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
  4. Re:Now what's Tyyrone going to do for a living? by An+Ominous+Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Tyrone Willingham

  5. Wider effects by leehwtsohg · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The killswitches seem to have a much wider effects than realised by these insightful articles.
    Murder rate at the same time in San Francisco
    http://www.sfgate.com/crime/ar...
    and New York
    http://gothamist.com/2015/01/0...
    seem to have also decined!

  6. Re:well duh... by Rosyna · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Citation of a smartphone remote kill switch being abused? Especially one that, like iOS, is triggered on an erase and is only based on the owner's credentials for unlocking?