Met Police Dismantles UK's Largest Phone Theft Gang
The Metropolitan Police has successfully dismantled the largest gang involved in smartphone thefts in the UK. Operation Echosteep, launched in December 2022, targeted a criminal group suspected of smuggling tens of thousands of stolen iPhones, including iPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 15, and iPhone 16, to China.
The operation began after a significant package containing mostly stolen iPhones was discovered. It is estimated that this smuggling ring accounted for up to 40% of all smartphones stolen in London during the same period. The gang is suspected of smuggling up to 40,000 stolen smartphones in the past 12 months. The gang's leaders remain unidentified.
The gang operated a warehouse near Heathrow Airport, using it to store the stolen iPhones before shipping them to Hong Kong. Street thieves were paid up to £300 (€345) per stolen iPhone, with targets often being pedestrians in London snatched by passing motorcyclists or cyclists. The number of iPhones stolen in London has nearly tripled in the last four years. Thousands of stolen iPhones were seized during the operation, and many arrests were made.
The dismantling of this gang is a significant blow to smartphone theft in London. The Metropolitan Police's successful operation has resulted in the recovery of thousands of stolen iPhones and the disruption of a major criminal network. The investigation continues to identify the leaders of the gang.
Read also:
- Electrified Opel Corsa GSE Concept (2025): Echoing the Performance of Lamborghini
- Digital Commerce Giant Clips Unveils Its Latest Offering, Clip Ultra, Fortifying Its Dominance in Mexico's Market
- Tesla-powered homes in Houston cause buying rush among interested buyers
- Unveiling Location, Drops, and Strategies for Grounded 2's Northern Scorpion
