Apple’s new Stolen Device Protection feature has cut the number of reactivated iPhones in London, according to Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley. The city’s mop‑moped thieves, who once sold stolen phones after a factory reset, now face a barrier that requires biometric authentication to erase or disable Lost Mode. That shift has forced many thieves to abandon the trade.

Apple enabled the protection by default with the iOS 26.4 update in March 2026, forcing owners to lock out imposters even if they know the passcode. The delay before critical actions gives owners time to mark a device as lost on the Find My network. Police say that the majority of recent thefts have not been reset, proving the measure works.

The collaboration between Apple and the Metropolitan Police, dubbed an intelligence‑sharing agreement, aims to deepen understanding of how iPhones surface in the black market. With the new default setting, thieves now face a costly hurdle that reduces resale value and discourages theft. For London residents, the change means fewer stolen devices return to circulation, and for Apple, it reinforces the company’s security reputation.