Police in 'cloned phone' raid

A computer, software and other equipment was seized

Police investigating the reprogramming - or "cloning" - of stolen mobile telephones have raided a shop in Birmingham.

West Midlands Police said the raid was believed to be the first such action in the UK.

A computer, software and other equipment was seized from a mobile phone shop in Alum Rock on Wednesday morning.

Laws passed last year made it a crime to change a phone's IMEI number - a unique identifying code - without the manufacturer's permission.

A recent survey carried out by the force showed that as much as 28% of all robbery offences involve the theft of mobile phones

Inspector Steve Rees

The offence can carry a maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment and an unlimited fine.

Inspector Dave Walker, from the force's Community Safety Bureau, said the aim of the new law was to try to prevent mobile phones from being stolen in the first place.

Undercover operations

"We believe (the new law) will lead to a fall in the number of robberies involving mobiles, because anyone who reprogrammes a phone's identity without the manufacturer's authority is risking prison or a hefty fine," he said.

Over the past few weeks, police have been visiting mobile phone outlets across the West Midlands, warning them that undercover operations would be taking place to target anyone suspected of reprogramming mobile phones.

Inspector Steve Rees, from Queens Road operational command unit, which carried out Wednesday's raid, said: "A recent survey carried out by the force showed that as much as 28% of all robbery offences involve the theft of mobile phones.

"If we are to cut down on this figure, it is vital that we do everything we can to stop people from altering the mobile's IMEI number so stolen phones are effectively rendered useless."