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Jasper Hart
February 19, 2020
Mobio has called for vigilance following the break-in
A mobile parts distributor that was recently targeted by thieves has called for mobile wholesalers to be vigilant about their stock.
Thieves took iPhone screens from Banbury-based Mobio Distribution, which provides replacement parts for Apple devices, on the night of February 6.
Co-director Chris Zammett would not disclose the exact value of the lost stock, but said it was “into the tens of thousands”. However, he said there was also stock they left.
“It was very targeted,” he told Mobile News. “We stock all kinds of Apple parts. They didn’t worry about any batteries, iPad stuff or accessories, they just took iPhone screens. We also had phones on the premises, and they were left.”
Zammett fears that the screens will re-enter the UK market once their Mobio branding is removed, or be sold abroad in Europe.
“Once the identifying marks have been removed, to a wholesaler it could come from anywhere,” he said. In a post on LinkedIn, he wrote: “If anyone is offered stock (phones or LCDs) and it sounds too good to be true it might be.”
He added that other mobile companies have mentioned recent robberies of their own to him since the incident. “We know of one or two other businesses it has happened to. From an industry perspective, knowledge is power, and if everyone knows it’s happening then you can better protect yourselves.”
In a statement, a Thames Valley Police spokesperson said: “Thames Valley Police received a call at around 8:05 a.m. on Friday (7/2) to reports of a burglary Mewburn Road, Banbury.
“This was a high value burglary with a large quantity of property stolen. Anyone with information is asked to contact the non-emergency number 101, quoting the reference 43200043216.”