Find out how the law regarding cell phone theft is changing.

Nowadays, mobile phones have become an indispensable part of our lives. We use them not only to make calls or send messages, but also to store photos, access our bank accounts, social media, emails and a great deal of personal information.

For this reason, since April 2026, thanks to Organic Law 1/2026 of 8 April, there has been a significant change in the Criminal Code regarding the theft and robbery of mobile phones. If the value of the electronic device is less than €400, a fine of one to three months’ imprisonment will be imposed. However, even if the device is valued at less than €400, under the latest amendment to the law, the penalty may rise to between one and three years’ imprisonment. In other words, under this new law, it is not the price of the mobile phone that is taken into account, but rather the information it may contain.

Under the new law, this offence could be classified as a basic theft offence, as the loss of the mobile phone could affect the victim; the person concerned may be left without access to their bank accounts or social media accounts, which could compromise their privacy, or they may lose valuable information stored on their mobile.

The law also states that individuals who have committed multiple thefts, even if minor, will face harsher sentences as well as financial penalties.

All in all, thanks to technology and its evolution over the years, it has become clear that the mobile phone is not just any old object; it has gone from being a mere accessory of little significance to becoming an essential part of our daily lives and an integral part of our personal lives.