A single unremarkable tower in southern China has become a global symbol of the illicit smartphone trade, as a Financial Times investigation uncovers how stolen iPhones from Western cities like London and New York end up for sale in the bustling tech markets of Shenzhen.
Nicknamed the “stolen iPhone building” by online forums and theft victims, the Feiyang Times building in the Huaqiangbei electronics district specializes in selling second-hand iPhones — many of them likely snatched off the streets of Western capitals.
Among the victims is Sam Amrani, a tech entrepreneur who had his iPhone 15 Pro stolen in Kensington, London by thieves on electric bikes. Using tracking software, Amrani followed his device’s journey across several London locations before it briefly appeared in Hong Kong and finally settled near Feiyang Times in Shenzhen — more than 9,000 kilometers away.
The investigation highlights the scale and speed of a highly organized supply chain. Phones stolen in Europe and the US are often routed through Hong Kong’s second-hand tech wholesalers — particularly in industrial complexes like 1 Hung To Road — before being sold or dismantled in mainland China.
In Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei district, sellers openly trade iPhones in various conditions, including SIM-locked, iCloud-locked, or fully functional devices. The Feiyang building’s third and fourth floors are particularly known for selling US and European models, prized for their access to international app stores and cheaper prices.
Despite many traders denying knowledge of the phones’ origins, insiders admit that even locked phones have value — if not for resale, then for parts. Components like screens, circuit boards, and chips are stripped and resold, feeding a booming ecosystem of electronics recycling and refurbishment.
“Have a look around,” said one seller, identified only as Wang. “There are all kinds [of phones].” Others, like Pakistani and Libyan traders, purchase locked phones in bulk due to favorable import rules in their home countries.
The UK Metropolitan Police estimate phone theft in London alone is a £50 million-a-year industry, with similar patterns seen in cities like Paris and New York. According to FT reporting, Shenzhen’s role as a global distribution center for stolen or locked phones underscores the difficulty authorities face in tracing or recovering devices once they vanish overseas.
Phone sellers in both Hong Kong and Shenzhen told the Financial Times that logistics companies or smugglers often transport large batches across the border to avoid China’s steep import taxes on electronics. Some sellers in Shenzhen reportedly contact victims, asking them to remove activation locks from devices — sometimes using threats or emotional appeals.
Still, local officials and market operators remain evasive. When FT reporters visited the Feiyang Times mall, building managers refused to comment, saying vendors operated privately and independently.
As law enforcement agencies in the West ramp up efforts to combat phone theft, the deeply entrenched resale network in China remains largely untouched — a problem complicated by international borders, fragmented accountability, and high demand for cheap or repairable tech.
“There aren’t that many places that have demand for ID-locked devices,” one Shenzhen trader said. “But here, there is demand. It’s a massive market.”
