Advanced Device Locking: gamechanger in combating phone theft

Around 196,000 people had their phones stolen between April 2022 and March 2023. and  this is only a fraction of the true figure writes Dion Price, CEO of device-locking technology company Trustonic.

Mobile “snatch thefts” have become endemic on UK streets, particularly in London, which accounted for 74 per cent of reported incidents in the year ending March 2023.

This is where advanced device locking technology comes into play, offering a more comprehensive approach to risk mitigation. Acting as a ‘kill switch'” it is nearly impossible to bypass, even for sophisticated criminal gangs. This technology integrates with a device’s operating system at a fundamental level, ensuring that even a factory reset won’t disable the lock. By rendering stolen devices worthless, it effectively removes the incentive for theft.

Unlike traditional security measures, which rely on users to set them up, advanced device locking works out-of-the-box. From the moment a phone is turned on, it is fully protected. While conventional security features remain important, advanced locking solutions are emerging as the most effective defense against street theft.

Unfortunately, the smartphone industry has been slow to embrace this transformative technology. Carriers and retailers owe it to themselves—and their customers—to explore the benefits of device locking. This technology holds the key to dismantling the global crime networks that fuel device theft.

Means, Motive, and Opportunity

Street theft poses a significant and growing threat to consumers. But what factors are driving its rise?  First, the ever-increasing cost of smartphones creates a lucrative incentive for theft, with high-end devices commanding premium prices on the black market. This trend is fuelled by the strong growth of premium smartphones, which are increasingly viewed as status symbols. As a result, thieves are operating in a target-rich environment where motivation and opportunity abound.

To make matters worse, law enforcement resources are woefully inadequate to address the issue effectively. Less than one per cent of phone thefts lead to a prosecution, and even when they do, theft is often treated as a minor crime, with offenders receiving little more than a slap on the wrist. This combination of high rewards and minimal consequences emboldens criminals to continue their activities.

The Limitations of Current Anti-Theft Measures

Efforts are being made to combat mobile theft and disrupt the criminal networks that profit from it, primarily through technological measures. Most modern phones come equipped with security features built into their core design. However, these require users to activate them, and many consumers either aren’t aware of these features or fail to set them up correctly.

The cost of these solutions varies depending on the use case and scale of deployment. However, the return on investment for retailers, carriers, and financiers is significant. For example:

Retailers: Millions in stolen goods no longer need to be written off.

Device Financing: Funds previously reserved for bad debt can be reallocated to lower credit thresholds, enabling more customers to access financing options.

Society at Large: Reducing street crime improves public safety and lowers the costs associated with replacing stolen devices.

Even when biometric authentication or “Find My Phone” features are enabled, sophisticated criminals often possess the tools and skills to bypass these safeguards.

The GSMA Device Registry (IMEI blacklist) was designed to block stolen handsets on a carrier’s network, theoretically reducing their resale value and deterring theft. However, this approach is fundamentally flawed.

 Limited Scope: The registry only blocks cellular network access, leaving stolen devices usable on Wi-Fi or offline.

Incomplete Adoption:Out of more than 800 carriers worldwide, only 130 participate in the registry, creating significant loopholes. Stolen phones are often shipped overseas, where they can be sold in markets not covered by the registry.

Optional Participation: The registry is a chargeable service rather than a mandatory requirement for carriers, and many operators may not even be aware of its existence.

Device locking also serves a range of functions, including protecting device subsidies and financing schemes, safeguarding supply chains and preventing forward and reverse logistics scams.

For instance, in supply chain protection, devices are shipped in a locked state and only unlocked upon arrival at their destination. In forward logistics, devices are shipped unlocked but can be remotely locked if theft or fraud is reported.

Advanced device locking platforms are designed to manage these varied use cases seamlessly, offering a unified solution for Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and Google. Devices are shipped from the factory with the locking solution pre-installed. Upon first use, the relevant use case is enabled over-the-air (OTA), enrolling the device into the platform provider’s system.