Metro

Wireless carriers and feds join forces to kill stolen phone market

Major wireless carriers and federal regulators agreed to build a database of cell phone IDs, aimed at killing the market for stolen mobile devices, authorities said today.

Mobile phone providers signed on to plans to establish a worldwide database of International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said in a joint statement.

The tracking digits would be akin to Vehicle Identification Numbers in cars, they said.

Provider can now kill a cell phone’s SIM card, which tells the device what its customer’s data and minute plans. But SIM cards are replaced and stolen phones can still be peddled on the black market.

The new database of phone-specific ID numbers “will be completed by Nov. 30, 2013,” according to a statement by industry trade group, CTIA — The Wireless Association.

“Our goal is to make a stolen cell phone as worthless as an empty wallet,” said Schumer.

“By permanently disabling stolen cell phones, we can take away the incentive to steal a cell phone in the first place and put a serious dent in the growing rates of iPhone and smart phone theft.”

AT&T VP Jim Bugel added: “A great deal of cooperation and technical work among several industry stakeholders went into making this a reality.”

Cell-phone thefts are becoming big business in New York, with 42 percent of reported thefts in New York involved a mobile device ripoff in 2011.

Kelly compared the construction of this database to draining a malaria -festered swamp.

“With the press of a button, carriers will be able to disable phones and turn highly prized stolen property into worthless chunks of plastic,” said Kelly. “Like draining the swamp to fight malaria, we’re trying to dry up the market to fight i-phone thefts.”