Originally Posted by
BAengineer
Even a locked cellphone has value. There are many companies who claim to be able to bypass the activation lock and if you do a search on ebay you find many phones advertised (and selling) where they are locked.
It's a lot simpler than that.
The phone can be factory reset by anyone with a computer by following Apple's instructions.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204306#recovery
I have done it myself a couple of times in the case when friends have forgotten their code.
In the UK I believe there is a system for reporting stolen phones by IMEI number and for all of the UK carriers to block the phone but I am not sure how well it works. It may not be in the carriers commercial interest to block any potential paying customer.
On many phones (no idea about iphone) it is possible to change the IMEI number but in the UK is is a Criminal Offence to do so. Criminals may not be concerned about this though.
A £10,000 machine can unlock the phone in a short time (by trying all the possible codes?) via the port in the bottom of the phone. Apple are now proposing to fix it to the apparent anguish of the US authorities. Unlock time depends on passcode length and complexity. 3 days for 6 digit passcode.
This Is the Box Used by Law Enforcement Agencies to Unlock iPhones
https://threatpost.com/apple-removes...cement/132842/
"One such device, called the GrayKey box"