The secret world of stolen iPhones: from London to Shenzhen!

The secret world of stolen iPhones: from London to Shenzhen!

Shenzhen, China - More and more stolen iPhones are finding their way to Shenzhen, China, where they are traded in a huge shadow market. A report by the Financial Times follows the routes that take these stolen devices from cities such as London and New York to the markets in Shenzhen. The Metropolitan Police in London puts the annual damage caused by smartphone thefts to almost 60 million euros. Frequent thefts happen on the open street, as the case of a London entrepreneur shows, whose iPhone 15 Pro was stolen by thieves on e-bikes. In a police campaign in February 2025, over 1,000 stolen cell phones were secured and 230 people were arrested who were involved in these illegal activities.

Hong Kong has established itself as a central hub for illegal iPhone trading. Stolen iPhones arrives there via air luggage, courier services or freight and are sorted in an industrial highhouse in KWun Tong. The dealers: Depending on their status, categorize the devices, with distinctions between those with or without identification number. Although the trade in used smartphones in Hong Kong is formally legal, control is made more difficult by this legislation.

The market of Shenzhen considered a rough

In Shenzhen, especially in the Huaqiangbi district, stolen iPhones are often broken down and sold into individual parts. Feiyang Times Building is a well -known place for this illegal trade. Even iPloud-locked iPhones have a market value here because their individual parts can continue to be used. Districts: Inside, occasionally try to avoid the iCloud lock by contacting the rightful owners: contact inside.

The authorities in Shenzhen have reacted to this problematic trade in raids and controls, but the illegal market is still active. In this context, questions about electronic scrap and the associated environmental consequences are also loud.

Recommendations for affected users: inside

For users: Inside iPhones and iPads, it is particularly important to protect yourself immediately in the event of theft. Apple recommends moving the device to the "Lost" mode immediately. This prevents the thieves' access and protects the Apple account from undesirable changes. Access to iCloud.com/find is necessary to mark the affected device as lost. The activation of the "Where is?" Function offers additional protection, because without this activation the device cannot be located or registered as lost.

In addition, users should change their Apple account password in the inside and notify the local police. If the iPhone is insured with AppleCare+, it is important not to remove the device from the Apple account until a claim for damage is approved. It is also advisable to inform the mobile operator about the incident to block the account and submit a claim.

Trading with stolen iPhones remains a significant problem for manufacturers and law enforcement authorities. Both digital communication via platforms such as Wechat and WhatsApp and the lack of strict controls promote this illegal market.

For more information about the recommended steps in the theft of an iPhone or iPad, please visit the official page ofApple Support.

Additional information about the shadow economy in Shenzhen and the illegal trade with stolen iPhones can be found in the article byt3n.