Social media users reacted to the British announcement of dismantling the largest gang specialized in mobile phone theft, as part of the biggest security campaign in the country’s history, with 46 suspects arrested for allegedly smuggling nearly 40,000 phones to China.

The announced figures reveal that 80,000 devices were stolen in the past year alone in the British capital, prompting authorities to launch a wide-scale tracking operation starting last December after police discovered a box containing 1,000 stolen iPhones inside a warehouse near Heathrow Airport, all prepared for shipment to Hong Kong.

This pivotal discovery opened the door to intensive investigations that resulted in the recovery of thousands of devices from various areas in London, with security reports revealing the gang’s responsibility for exporting 40% of the total stolen phones in the city, with a special focus on Apple products due to their exceptional profitability “street thieves get $400 per device,” while the resale price in China is many times higher.

However, the gang’s operations went beyond traditional snatching to reach more organized and daring levels, as authorities arrested 11 people in a single operation while attempting to intercept a delivery truck loaded with new iPhone 17 phones, indicating the criminal network’s organizational and tactical development.

The October 8, 2025 episode of the program “Networks” highlighted mixed reactions from activists ranging from outright skepticism of the official narrative and announced figures, to alternative interpretations involving possible intelligence dimensions, as well as calls for stricter measures against the perpetrators.

In the security readings of the incident, the tweeter Hayat said

The matter goes far beyond mere commercial theft, suggesting an espionage agenda aimed at stealing confidential information and hacking victims’ accounts, questioning the wisdom of focusing smuggling operations specifically towards China rather than other global markets.

On the other hand, activist Abu Jihad expressed great surprise at the numerical contradictions in the announced data, tweeting

What is the logical basis for valuing a stolen and used phone at £3,700, while its new price does not reach this amount, casting doubt on the reliability of the official figures as a whole.

Similarly, the tweeter Sameh offered a bolder interpretation

He ruled out the logic of criminals’ identities remaining unknown for such a long time despite the widespread security surveillance networks, considering this likely due to either official involvement in the operation or deliberate protection of the criminals, rejecting the idea of a “hidden criminal” in the era of comprehensive technical surveillance.

Far from doubts and analyses, the account owner Sam took a decisive and practical stance, demanding:

• Removal of all involved individuals from British territory, even those holding British citizenship, in a clear call for decisive solutions that tolerate no leniency.

Meanwhile, London Mayor Sadiq Khan praised the success of the security operation, announcing his commitment to continue pressuring phone manufacturers to develop effective technical solutions that render stolen devices completely disabled, while calling for a unified global strategy to eradicate this illicit trade and enhance security on the capital’s streets.

Official security data indicated a noticeable improvement with a 13% decrease in personal robbery and a 14% decline in theft cases during the first quarter of this year, figures reflecting relative security progress, although the previously recorded large numbers require continued caution and close monitoring.