Apple’s anti-theft ‘Kill Switches’ dramatically counters smartphone thefts

The incidents of Apple smartphone thefts have dropped significantly in three major cities since the manufacturer introduced an incredible app called “kill switches”, according to the statement of the authorities on Tuesday.

The number of stolen iPhones fell impressively in two American cities, namely San Francisco and New York, in just a year after Apple Inc added a ‘kill switch’ feature to its devices in September 2013.

While San Francisco reported a drop in iPhones theft by 40 percent, New York witnessed a decline in smartphone stealing by 25 percent.

On the other hand, London recorded a drop by 50 percent in the smartphone theft.

These figures are based on an open announcement by officials in the three cities.

The ‘kill switches’ feature allows the phones to turn off remotely when they are stolen.

1.6 million Americans had lost their handheld devices in 2012, as per the figures of National Consumers League.

California alone witnesses smartphone thefts on large scale, which accounts for more than half of all crimes reported in Oakland, San Francisco and other cities.

So far, tech bigwigs Google, Apple and Samsung have implemented kill switches feature on their smartphones. Microsoft is likely to release an operating system with the feature for its Windows phones this year.