Consumers would have kill switches to deter stolen mobiles

 

carloThe Senate, anticipating that the mobile-phone industry will wake up and smell the rate of thefts, voted 18-13 on Thursday to approve a bill that would require so-called kill switches on hand-held cellular devices sold in the state after July 1, 2016.

“The industry indicates that they will be doing it in a short time,” said Sen. Carlo Leone, D-Stamford, co-chairman of the General Law Committee who introduced the bill. “This gives the industry an ample time frame.”

Consumers in recent years have complained that stolen smart phones can be hacked by thieves. The bill next moves to the House.