Overview
- Apple rejects the allegation, saying it responds to verified law‑enforcement requests and points to Find My and Stolen Device Protection as effective tools.
- The company says it is exploring IMEI blocking for reported thefts but warns the method could be abused by false claims and would not stop devices being stripped for parts.
- The Met alleges Apple checks the NMPR daily for trade‑in network status yet does not act on theft flags to prevent resale.
- More than 80,000 phones were stolen in London in 2024, with police estimating a large share is exported and linked to organized crime.
- Parliamentary scrutiny has intensified, with committee chair Chi Onwurah criticizing major phone makers over their anti‑theft efforts.