NEW YORK — As cell phones get more sophisticated, thefts have skyrocketed. On Monday, a New York congressman said he plans to sponsor a bill requiring a “kill switch” on new phones to make them useless to thieves.
Megan Boken
CBS News Eighteen months ago, Megan Boken was sitting in her car in a St. Louis neighborhood. She was talking to her mom on her smartphone when she was shot and killed by a robber.
“These people had stolen cell phones before. They were going down the street looking for someone to get their cell phone,” says Paul Boken, Megan’s father. “They had experience taking cell phones and selling them, so the fact that she was on her cell phone is what made her a target.”
Read also:
New bill would require smartphone kill switch to curb 'Apple picking' (Metro.us)
Officials Want Manufacturers to Add Feature to Deter Smartphone Theft (NY1)
Smartphone 'kill switch' legislation introduced in US House (UPI.com)
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