new york city top cop bill gratton is calling for a federal law forcing cell phone companies to designitch, which would essentially render stolen cell phones useless. he says companies are holding out because they want to sell more cell phones. >> this is once began all about corporate greed. profit. >> reporter: an estimated 1.6 million such thefts in 2012 alone. one victim, megan, 23, former star volleyball player was shot and killed in st. louis 18 months ago. >> she was targeted because she was talking on her smartphone. at the time she was talking to her mother. >> reporter: some companies say a kill switch might open smartphones to hacking, but experts say the real issue is a matter of life and death. >> why would someone steal a phone? here in the u.s., once it is reported stolen you can't use it. but they send it overseas and it can go for hundreds of dollars for one iphone or ipad. and you can use it in other countries. >> they can reactivate them overseas where they might not be able to do it here. the numbers are staggering. 50% of robberies in san francisco in 2013, smartph