What to do if your phone is stolen – a tech expert’s step-by-step guide

More than 117,000 phone thefts were reported in London in 2024. That’s more than double the number from the previous year (52,000). The most common method involves thieves riding past on modified e-bikes, scooters, and mopeds and snatching phones from the hands of oblivious pedestrians. In an effort to tackle this phone-swiping epidemic, the Metropolitan Police is working with Apple to install “kill switches” that render the company’s phones unusable after they’ve been stolen. Many see this as a distinctly English issue. The New York Times published a report recently on London’s status as a “global hub” for phone thieves, with the city being criticised by US media for ‘normalising’ phone theft. Device insurer SquareTrade, meanwhile, reports that the UK as a whole accounts for nearly 40 per cent of all phone theft claims across its 12 European markets, with 42 per cent of those UK insurance claims coming from London. Ultimately, caution is the best line of defence. Here’s what we should all do right now to help avoid becoming another phone theft statistic, including my tips on what to do should the worst happen. JUMP TO: - Official police advice - Step one: Secure your phone - Step two: Protect your data and accounts - Step three: What to do if your phone is stolen - Frequently asked questions Official police advice The Metropolitan Police’s advice is to “be mindful of who’s around you when you’re using your phone in public, particularly when entering your PIN number or passcodes. Avoid entering personal information in a public space wherever possible.” “Never give your phone to people you don’t know, particularly if you have just met them. Thieves may ask to borrow your phone or offer to enter their number – don’t let them.” The Met also offers the following advice on how to protect yourself against the specific threat of thieves on bikes and mopeds: - If you need to call or use your phone on the street, look out for anyone on a bike or a moped near you. Look up, look out. - Make it quick so you don’t become distracted. - Don’t text while you’re walking – you won’t notice what’s going on around you. - If that’s not possible, stand away from the roadside, close to a building or wall, so no one can come up behind you. - Going hands-free can prevent a thief from snatching your phone out of your hand. With these common-sense pointers in mind, here are the steps you should take to secure your phone, both before and after a theft. Let’s start with the anti-theft measures in place on every smartphone, whether you’re using an iPhone or an Android handset. Step one: Secure your phone