14 DAY TRIAL // According to the Government, police and mobile phone industry in the UK, there is no point to steal mobile phones anymore, as some new test results show that the vast majority of mobile phones are barred on home networks on the first day after being reported as stolen. Reportedly, around 80 percent of the mobile phones that are stolen, across all networks, are blocked within 48 hours of the report. This is said to make phone stealing less attractive to criminals and drive down street crime as well as make people safer in their communities.
Home Secretary John Reid said: "Being robbed for your mobile is a harrowing and distressing experience that has happened to far too many of us and our children. We are determined to stamp this out. That's why today we're dealing mobile thieves a double whammy. If they try to use the stolen mobile they now know it will be blocked within 48 hours. And a new offence from tomorrow means that if they try and re-program it - or try and sell it for reprogramming - they can face up to five years in prison or an unlimited fine. "
"This shows what can be done when government, police and industry work in partnership. Because crime - like mobiles themselves - are always changing we will now work with the industry and police to anticipate the crimes of the future so we can design out problems in the next generation of phones before they develop."
Thus, those that will re-program stolen handsets and be found guilty of it will face jail terms of up to five years. This should make people think twice about attempting it, since your average mobile phone is definitely not worth five years in jail.