A report released by the Home Office that Apple's iPhones are considered as the most stolen smartphones in Europe, BBC reported.

According to the report, the electronics manufacturer's iPhone 5, 5C, 5S and 4S models were the most targeted devices by thieves from August 2012 to January of this year.

During the duration of the study, over 740,000 people from England and Wales had their smartphones stolen. London alone has about 100,000 victims of mobile phone theft.

The most common victims are women and those between the ages of 14 to 24.

Based on the findings, the researchers noted that the most common theft methods are pick-pocketing or simply taking the devices once left unattended by their owners.

Although pick-pocketing is widely considered as a minor crime, Theresa May of Home Office said the report raises concerns due to the sensitive personal information stored in the devices.

Aside from appealing to law enforcers, May also hopes that consumers will be more careful in protecting their devices from thieves, according to Independent.

"People are increasingly carrying their lives in their pockets, with bank details, emails and other sensitive personal information easily accessible through mobile phones," she noted.

"This is why it is vital that government, police and industry work together to tackle this crime," May added.

Despite the findings of the study, the Home Office believes the situation may have changed due to the introduction of new security features for the personal devices. Since phone companies can now track down stolen devices and deactivate them, the number of thefts may have gone down.

A spokesperson for Apple explained that the company continuing to develop new security features to protect the smartphones and their owners, CBS reported.

"Apple has led the industry in helping customers protect their lost or stolen devices since the launch of Find My iPhone in 2009 by allowing customers to remotely set a passcode or erase all their personal data," the spokesperson said.

"With iOS 7, Find My iPhone includes a feature called Activation Lock, which is designed to prevent anyone else from using your iPhone," the company representative added. "This can help you keep your device secure, even if it is in the wrong hands, and can improve your chances of recovering it."