Thieves are hilariously turning down Android devices

The notion that Android devices are worth less than iPhones is an old one. Still, smartphone thieves apparently don’t share the same view, as UK residents are reporting that thieves are returning their Samsung devices after stealing them.

To add some context, smartphone theft is becoming increasingly common in the UK, as the Metropolitan Police in London reported that 117,211 mobile devices were stolen in 2024 alone, which is almost 2,000 more thefts than occurred in 2023. While the Metropolitan Police don’t track the models of stolen phones, there are other sources that show which ones thieves prefer.

According to a feature from the London Centric, a Londoner named Sam was pickpocketed by a group of eight men who took his camera, his Samsung, and his beanie, of all things. However, in a surprising twist, one of the thieves turned around and handed Sam back his device, uttering a few words before leaving: “Don’t want no Samsung.”

Thieves still don’t want Samsungs

The London Centric also featured a man named Mark whose phone was swiped by a thief on an e-bike. Mark tried to give chase but lost him, though he saw the thief stop to look at Mark’s Samsung Galaxy and then toss it onto the street. Mark was fortunately able to retrieve his phone, which did not sustain any damage, but he did tell the London Centric that he felt “a bit rejected.” “My poor phone,” he said.

Experts from cybersecurity firm ESET interviewed by the London-based publication noted that the disdain for Samsung devices is likely due to the iPhone’s higher resale value. “Apple devices have a higher secondhand market value and it makes more economic sense to pursue these more sought-after phones rather than cheaper models with a lower secondhand price,” Jake Moore, an analyst at ESET, told the London Centric.

Security features for when you’re not so lucky

While it does seem likely that thieves are specifically targeting iPhones due to their resale value, should your Android device be stolen, there are security features that can minimize the loss.

Android devices have recently gained increasingly more robust anti-theft security features. One of those is Google’s Theft Detection Lock, which will lock the device when the phone’s accelerometer detects a theft, such as a grab from a speeding bicycle. There is also Remote Lock, which allows the device to be locked from anywhere in case the theft is not detected by the device.