Bell and Rogers say new rules mandating all Canadian wireless carriers sell unlocked phones have triggered a rise in phone thefts. To help spur competition, on Dec. 1, the CRTC mandated that all carriers unlock phones for free and only sell unlocked phones going forward. It could be referring to Verizon, which is the only major U.S. carrier that sells most of its phones unlocked. U.S. carrier Verizon said in February that its unlocked phones had become a target for thieves. In December, Dean Belanger of Calgary tried to get a Bell-locked phone and a Telus-locked phone unlocked for free.

Source: CBC News August 18, 2018 08:00 UTC