One iPhone led police to gang suspected of sending up to 40,000 stolen UK phones to China

In a major operation, the UK's Metropolitan Police has busted an international gang suspected of smuggling up to 40,000 stolen mobile phones from the UK to China. The investigation, triggered by a victim tracking a stolen iPhone to a warehouse near Heathrow Airport, led to the arrest of 18 suspects and the discovery of over 2,000 stolen devices. The gang's lucrative scheme targeted Apple products for their profitability overseas, with stolen phones selling for up to £4,000 each in China. The crackdown marks the largest operation against phone theft in the UK, aiming to tackle the growing issue of mobile phone theft, particularly in London.