In a bold (and welcome) move, AT&T will be instituting a new policy that will block stolen devices from connecting to its network, utilizing a new database that the carrier will manage.

As announced in April, AT&T is creating a stolen phone database to prevent devices reported stolen from accessing wireless networks. We will install this availability next week for AT&T phones on our network and are working toward a cross-carrier solution later this year.

Any stolen phone or cellular tablet device may be added to the stolen database, and only the person who requested that a device be added may have it reinstated.