A significant heist has taken place close to Heathrow Airport, where a vehicle transporting Samsung’s newest foldable smartphones was stolen. The cargo comprised around 12,000 units of Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7 phones, estimated at a value of $10.6 million. Furthermore, the shipment included Galaxy Watch 8s, Galaxy S25, and A16 models. The theft occurred after the products were moved from the airport to a storage facility, and the truck has yet to be found.
Samsung is expected to work alongside UK authorities to trace the stolen devices. Meanwhile, the company may opt to blacklist and remotely disable the phones, making them inoperable and challenging to sell. This incident could interfere with Samsung’s supply chain, potentially resulting in shortages of the Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 in the UK. However, pre-orders are predicted to continue without interruptions, as the stolen shipment was insured, lessening the financial consequences for Samsung.
The theft coincides with Samsung’s commemoration of record-setting pre-orders for the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7, highlighting the substantial demand for these products. Samsung is likely to boost its logistics and security protocols in response to this incident.
