In September 2024, the British government announced a crackdown on the sharp increase in "snatch thefts" of smartphones, which saw a rise of over 150% compared to the previous year. An estimated 78,000 people had their phones or bags stolen on the streets, a significant jump from 31,000 thefts in the previous year. Authorities attribute this surge to growing demand for second-hand smartphones, both domestically and internationally. The government invitation to find technology solution for new protection is well funded, but the overall issues of missing phones from the second-hand market will remain. A better view for long term sustainability: supporting a stronger and healthier recycling campaign for smartphones globally.