Stolen phone - what to do

ADT · 5 Jul 2019 at 14:31

Hi all,

An elderly relative of mine had their phone snatched out of their hand at a bus stop yesterday.

What’s the best way to make this phone as useless as possible to the scum that stole it?

So far we have turned on lost mode on iCloud, called the network carrier and had them issue a new sim and black list the phone’s imei number. Phone stolen was an iPhone 7.

Is there anything else that can be done?

Diddums · 5 Jul 2019 at 14:45

Get a new phone and move on with your life. No point harbouring an unnecessary hatred.

Was it insured?

Arcane · 5 Jul 2019 at 14:51

Sounds like a tasty phone they lost.

Megahurtz400 · 5 Jul 2019 at 14:52

Toasted with a light spread of salted butter would probably be the best bet. Maybe even a bit of honey

Semple · 5 Jul 2019 at 14:54

Reminds me of christmas a lovely bit of stollen.

Puzzled · 5 Jul 2019 at 14:55

Arcane said:
Sounds like a tasty phone they lost.

Had to look that up

I take it thieves have a way around all these locks / protections as why do they keep stealing them if they are useless once reported? I know they aren't the smartest but they must have some value once blacklisted.

Street · 5 Jul 2019 at 14:55

Arcane said:
Sounds like a tasty phone they lost.

Can't beat a bit of apple stollen!

beachBOYken · 5 Jul 2019 at 14:56

Perhaps change apple password as well just for good measure.

Ahleckz · 5 Jul 2019 at 14:57

Semple said:
Reminds me of christmas a lovely bit of stollen.

Mmm, love a bit of stollen with lashings of butter.

Raymond Lin · 5 Jul 2019 at 15:00

I prefer Panettone at Christmas

EGuitarStar · 5 Jul 2019 at 15:01

You've done as much as possible. I had my phone Stolen once the police managed to find it a few days later. Claim on insurance if it had any.

Now, may I have some of the stollen cake on offer?

bol · 5 Jul 2019 at 15:45

People steal UK iPhones because there is a low counterfeit risk. They are then sold in third world countries such as Africa where the network connection standards are not as stringent as here. Makes no difference if the phone is blacklisted.

BananaDunka · 5 Jul 2019 at 15:55

bol said:
People steal UK iPhones because there is a low counterfeit risk. They are then sold in third world countries such as Africa where the network connection standards are not as stringent as here. Makes no difference if the phone is blacklisted.

Oooh. In this instance though, you should just give OP's nan's phone back.

bainbridge · 5 Jul 2019 at 16:07

Use anti theft software to get GPS coordinates and photograph the thief, then use GD to help track down the thief and keep us informed while the police close in, arrest the thief and the event makes the national press.

Simple!

labcoattech · 5 Jul 2019 at 16:11

Was find my iPhone enabled on the phone? If so this would stop anyone from resetting / activating the phone.

Pawnless Endgame · 5 Jul 2019 at 16:19

I don't think this is a thread for trolling guys.

Not a lot can be done I'm afraid OP. You can ban the IMEI number like you have already done, but it only works on a country by country basis. The thieves will buy a compatible charger for chips then sell that plus the handset overseas to a known country where the IMEI will work again.

On lost mode / iCloud, if you are able to remote-format the handset, then do that. It should delete all personal data including the contacts and any attached accounts.

ADT · 5 Jul 2019 at 16:22

Didn’t realise one extra letter would cause so much drama

In my defence I’m on my phone at work and didn’t realise the crime I had committed

Anyways the phone is not insured I believe so that’s a lesson learnt!

And yes find my iPhone was enabled

EssexBoy · 5 Jul 2019 at 16:27

bol said:
People steal UK iPhones because there is a low counterfeit risk. They are then sold in third world countries such as Africa where the network connection standards are not as stringent as here. Makes no difference if the phone is blacklisted.

This is true for dumb phones like Nokia's of the past but afaik your apple id can lock the phone so it can not be used anymore.

There are ways around it though.

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/8xyq8v/how-to-unlock-icloud-stolen-iphone

yak.h'cir · 12 Jul 2019 at 08:40

bainbridge said:
Use anti theft software to get GPS coordinates and photograph the thief, then use GD to help track down the thief and keep us informed while the police close in, arrest the thief and the event makes the national press.

Simple!

That's what I did, I would recommend this course of action!