A 'kill switch' to deter smartphone theft: It's the right call

[Commentary] Do you own a smartphone? If so, you are a target for opportunistic thieves. Robberies and thefts involving smartphones are now the most common property crimes in America. The black market for these stolen devices has become so lucrative that even Colombian drug cartels now traffic in them.

But this kind of theft, unlike most crimes, has a remarkably simple solution. Cellphone manufacturers and wireless carriers could put an end to the growing number of smartphone thefts by installing and enabling a "kill switch" on all phones. This technology can render stolen devices inoperable on any network, anywhere in the world. Because all smartphones would be useless to anyone but their rightful owners, they would have no resale value, so thieves would have no incentive to steal them. This technology exists, and it's on millions of smartphones. Unfortunately, it's been deployed in a way that requires smartphone owners to activate it themselves. For nearly 18 months the industry has been pressured to voluntarily implement kill switch technology on all phones in a way that requires consumers to opt out rather than opt in. The idea would be that phones would come already set up with the technology activated. Consumers could opt out if they wanted to, but why would anyone The industry has taken some steps in the right direction, but no manufacturers or carriers have fully agreed to what we are urging. We can't wait for the industry to grow a conscience when people are getting hurt every day.

A bill pending in Sacramento, SB 962 by state Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco), would require smartphones sold in the state not only to have this technology but to have it turned on as the default mode when the phone is purchased. This week, the state Senate will consider the legislation, and you should let your representatives in Sacramento know how you feel on the issue.

[Charlie Beck is chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. George Gascón is district attorney of San Francisco.]