What can phone makers and users do to combat device theft?

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In response, the Home Office said it will call a summit of tech companies and phone makers to look at new ways to tackle the problem and build on existing anti-theft features that have already been introduced on many devices. iPhone users can also use a feature called Stolen Device Protection, which when turned on requires additional security measures to access key security and personal data settings if the phone senses it is away from a familiar location such as home or work. In addition, earlier this year Google announced the introduction of new AI-powered tools, including something called Theft Detection Lock, which automatically locks a phone when the various sensors detect motion patterns associated with theft – such as the jolt of someone on a bike snatching a phone before moving off at high speed. Policing minister Dame Diana Johnson said phone companies need to ensure that any stolen devices can be “quickly, easily and permanently disabled, rather than re-registered for sale on the second-hand market”.