Mobile phone retailers in the UK are taking drastic measures to combat the surge in phone thefts. VodafoneThree, one of the largest retail networks, has witnessed a staggering 967% increase in theft incidents during the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2024. Store robberies and attempted robberies have skyrocketed, particularly in London and the south-east, with organized crime playing a prominent role.
To counteract this trend, some retailers have implemented a “locked door policy” for certain stores, requiring security guards to unlock the door for customers instead of keeping it open all day. VodafoneThree and Virgin Media O2 are among those taking extra precautions, including increased security personnel, panic alarms, and advanced monitoring systems.
In the first six months of this year, Virgin Media O2 experienced more than double the number of robberies and attempted robberies compared to all of 2024. While acknowledging the efforts already made, the company’s Director of Retail, Will Houldsworth, stated that the situation remained “unacceptable.” Both retailers have been working more closely with law enforcement to identify and apprehend criminals.
The issue even gained the attention of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, who expressed concerns that companies such as Apple and Google profits from stolen phones being replaced. Representatives from both companies pointed to existing security features within their devices but have yet to fully implement the proposed “kill switch” concept.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/sep/06/phone-retailers-lock-doors-tackle-rising-thefts
