Mobile Phone Theft Is Rising: What You Need to Know & How to Protect Yourself

This month, Insurance2go joined the Metropolitan Police and major tech manufacturers including Apple, Samsung and Google at the International Mobile Phone Crime Conference in London. The goal? To tackle the growing threat of mobile phone theft and keep the public safer.

Here’s what every phone owner needs to know.

Phone Theft Isn’t “Petty Crime” Anymore

Your phone is more than a device — it’s your digital identity.

And criminals know it.

A stolen phone can give thieves access to:

• banking apps
• stored cards
• emails and cloud accounts
• personal photos and data
• digital identity information

This can lead to financial loss, fraud and long‑lasting emotional stress.

The Met Police shared evidence showing that phone theft now fuels a global criminal economy, from street-level snatch thefts to organised groups responsible for exporting devices overseas.

Police & Industry Leaders Are Taking Action

The Metropolitan Police has created a specialist taskforce to disrupt every stage of this criminal chain. But they’re not working alone, the tech industry is stepping up too.

At the conference:

Apple, Google and Samsung confirmed they are working on advanced hardware-level protections to make stolen phones harder to wipe, unlock or resell.

New technology is being developed to stop illicit refurbishing and prevent phones from being trafficked internationally.

The goal is simple: make stolen phones worthless to criminals.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan urged manufacturers to go even further, calling for devices to be designed in a way that removes the incentive to steal them in the first place.

How Insurance2go Is Helping Protect Consumers

As part of the SPB UK group, Insurance2go was invited to the conference to share insight from millions of UK mobile users.

Our mission is two-fold:

Helping consumers reduce their risk

We’re committed to educating the public on how to stay safe, whether that’s using security features like Face ID and passcodes, or being aware of new theft tactics targeting high‑value devices.

Providing affordable protection when the unexpected happens

Even with the best precautions, theft can still happen. That’s why our insurance is built to:

• cover theft, loss (on selected policies) and unauthorised usage
• support fast claims to help you get back up and running
• keep costs affordable for students, families and everyday phone users
• protect multiple devices under one simple plan

With phones now central to our payments, identity, communication and personal safety, having a safety net matters more than ever.

What You Can Do Today to Stay Protected

Here are simple, effective steps you can take right now:

• Use a strong passcode
• Enable device tracking (Find My iPhone / Find My Device)
• Activate biometric security (Face ID, fingerprint)
• Avoid using your phone openly near busy roads or transport hubs
• Back up your device regularly
• Consider insurance cover that protects you against theft

A combination of smart behaviour + robust security + protection gives you the best defence.

A Shared Mission to Keep You Safe

The message from the conference was clear: tackling mobile phone crime requires everyone: police, manufacturers, policymakers and insurers to work together.

Insurance2go is proud to be part of this conversation, and we’ll continue to support UK consumers by raising awareness, improving protection and offering insurance that helps you bounce back quickly if the worst happens.