A cybersecurity expert has explained why an increasing number of phones stolen in London are ending up in China. This comes after a Londoner reported having his phone snatched right out of his hand and was shocked to discover its location in a notorious Chinese port two weeks later.

Sukru Haskan, a Turk living in London, described how an e-bike rider snatched his iPhone 14 from his hand as he walked along Brompton Street in Knightsbridge on July 30. “He was on one of those e-bikes, wearing thick gloves and just snatched it (the phone),” he told MailOnline.

Haskan admitted that he did not chase the attacker and explained that the attacker was already too far away when he reacted (see video). The 41-year-old financial worker, who describes himself as a “fit guy,” admitted to feeling helpless.

“The police came and questioned me, but while they were doing that, I could see it moving all over London. That makes you lose faith in our security,” Haskan said. “First it moved to Hyde Park, then to Finsbury Park. I sent screenshots to the police, and then suddenly it was in China,” he added.

Haskan tracked his stolen phone to Shenzhen, China, the country’s technology hub, using Apple’s Find My iPhone feature. The same technology proved useful in 2015 when a British woman used it to catch a purse snatcher in the act, helping police make a quick arrest.

E-bike bandit grabs cell phone in broad daylight

“I saw online how hundreds of thousands of cell phones ended up in China,” said Haskan. While he acknowledged the challenge of preventing cell phone thefts in a busy city, he expressed frustration at how easily stolen devices can disappear across international borders.

His phone trip to Shenzhen highlighted this problem and left him helpless about recovering his property. “It’s become a big business, a global trade, and nothing is being done. The police dropped my case because no suspects could be found, but it’s part of an international criminal organization,” he told the outlet.

“People steal things, I understand that, that’s normal, but thousands of phones end up in China and nobody investigates it,” Haskan noted.

In a disturbingly similar incident, Emma Hall was the victim of a phone theft in April. A group of young people on bicycles snatched her phone just steps from her flat in Leyton High Street, east London. Incredibly, the stolen device resurfaced at the same address in Shenzhen.

In 2017, the UK urged commuters to look after their mobile phones after alarming statistics showed that over 100 devices were lost or stolen every day.

The mysterious journey of stolen phones

MailOnline asked IT and cybersecurity expert Thomas Balogun for advice to unravel the mystery behind this alarming trend. According to Balogun, organised crime gangs are active in the UK and are selling stolen phones to cybercriminals abroad.

“In China, there is a high demand for phone parts due to the large population. In addition, there are less strict regulations on individual parts,” said Balogun. According to the expert, 80 percent of stolen phones are disassembled into their individual parts. These parts are then used to repair other phones or to make new devices.

“I have repeatedly analysed cases where stolen phones have resurfaced thousands of miles away, particularly in countries like China. This is not a mere coincidence, but a calculated ploy by criminals to exploit vulnerabilities in law enforcement across borders,” Maria-Diandre Opre, a cybersecurity expert at Earthweb, previously told MailOnline.

Maria-Diandre Opre suspects that stolen phones are part of a global criminal enterprise. Thieves target phones because the risk of detection is low in certain countries with weak law enforcement. These devices are smuggled, disassembled and resold, often with data erased, making them difficult to trace.

Mobile phone thefts often occur in crowded areas. Thieves target victims on bicycles or mopeds and snatch phones from their hands or pockets. Most thefts occur in the evening, but they also occur during the day. The Metropolitan Police offers the following advice to prevent mobile phone theft:

Protect yourself from phone thieves

1. Stay alert

• Be aware of your surroundings, especially in crowded areas.
• Avoid using your phone on the street, or use it quickly and carefully.
• Don’t text while walking.
• Use hands-free options whenever possible.

2. Back up your phone

• Enable strong locks (keyboard, fingerprint, facial recognition).
• Take advantage of your phone’s additional security features.
• Consider using an anti-theft app.
• Write down the IMEI number of your phone (dial *#06#).
• Register your phone with a recognized real estate database.

3. In case of theft

• Do not confront a thief.
• Report the theft to the police and your mobile phone provider.

By staying alert and taking simple precautions, you can significantly reduce the risk of phone theft.