Apple's iPhone most likely smartphone model to be stolen, government figures show
A government study has identified Apple’s iPhone handsets as the most likely to be stolen.
Report: Apple's iPhone is most likely to be stolen
The report – named The Mobile Phone Theft Ratio - was based on data recorded between August 2012 and January 2014 and puts the iPhone 5, 5C, 5S and 4S models in the top four spaces, with the Blackberry 9790 in fifth place. Samsung and HTC models were also on the list.
Home secretary Theresa May said: “Crime has fallen by more than 10 per cent under this government. However, the level of mobile phone theft remains a concern and people are increasingly carrying their lives in their pockets, with bank details, emails and other sensitive personal information easily accessible through mobile phones.
“The Mobile Phone Theft Ratio will inform consumers about which mobile phones are most targeted by thieves. We are also working with industry to stop the reactivation of phones overseas, thereby killing the export market on which organised criminals rely.”
May added that efforts by the industry itself had helped reduce theft.
“The mobile phone industry is already taking vital action to introduce features that enable phones to be tracked and wiped if they are stolen.
“It is encouraging to see that these security improvements have contributed to recorded theft from the person falling by 10 per cent in the last year, according to the most recent crime statistics.”
According to crime figures for 2012/13, there were 742,000 victims of mobile phone theft in England and Wales. In London, nearly 100,000 mobile phones were reported stolen in 2013.
Earlier this week, a Russian blog released what is thought to be the first footage of Apple’s new iPhone 6.