Once a mobile phone was only the device we could use to make calls, these small computers now contain half our lives. Impressive, but also risky, because if we lose our smartphone or if it is stolen, we immediately fear for all the data on it. If your smartphone is stolen, follow these steps.
We will not ignore it: if your smartphone is really stolen, it is not very likely that you can get it back. These devices are so compact, mobile and easy to trade that they can be in another country in a matter of a few hours. That is precisely why it is important to take immediate action when you realize that your smartphone has disappeared.
Before we discuss what you can do when your smartphone is stolen, let us first talk about what you can do now, to ensure that the possible theft of a smartphone has less consequences. Because as much as it is a waste of the device, it is much worse that you have probably lost all your precious photos, your contacts, and so on. That’s not necessary at all these days, as both Android and Apple devices allow you to back up to the cloud. Those backups are made automatically, so you never lose a lot of data when the device is lost or stolen.
There are still people who find the cloud a bit exciting because data is stored externally, but we recommend that you have automatic backups of your smartphone. If the device is stolen, you only lose the device, not your data. In addition, make sure that features intended to track your phone (such as Find My iPhone for iOS) are turned on.
Password and EMEI
It seems a bit exaggerated, but we still see a lot of cases of people not protecting their device with a password or PIN because they find entering that code a hassle. We understand that, but it is even more hassle if thieves can unlock your smartphone without any problems, and can access all your personal (and perhaps financial) data. We strongly recommend that you set a PIN code for both the device and the SIM, so that you cannot make calls with your SIM in another device.
Finally, one more preparatory measure: make sure you know the IMEI number of your device. Not only is this necessary when you report to the police, it also helps you prevent the device from being resold. There are several ways to find your IMEI, but the easiest one is by entering * # 06 # in the screen where you normally enter a phone number. This works by the way on an iPhone as well as on an Android device.
If for some reason this fails, you can also find out the IMEI on an iPhone by navigating to Settings / General / Info. On an Android device you can find the number by navigating to Settings / About phone / Status / IMEI Information (the literal name of the menu structure may differ slightly per Android device). Make sure you keep this number in a safe place, and not just on your smartphone itself.
Call yourself
So much for the preparation. What if your phone was really stolen. Whether that is really the case remains to be seen. Before you completely panic and perform all the steps that we mention in this article, it is important to first check whether the device has really been stolen / disappeared. The easiest way to do that is to dial your own number using someone else’s phone.
Suppose you left the smartphone somewhere, then there is a chance that someone picks up the phone and reunites it with you as the owner. Or you can hear the device ringing and discover that it has slipped into the lining of your bag. If the device is suddenly unreachable and switched off, it is unfortunately usually a sign that a thief is using it, and has switched it off to be untraceable.
Track / Block
If you suspect that your smartphone has been stolen, it is important to enable the tracking functions that the manufacturer has made available as soon as possible. You do need another smartphone or computer for that. In the case of an Android device, you can go to the website google.com/android/find and log in there with your Google account. The site will show the last known location of your smartphone, where you immediately have the option to display a message on the device, and to lock the device remotely and even delete it.
The same goes for an iPhone, just go to in this case icloud.com and click Find iPhone. Even then, the device will search for the last known location of the device and you have the option of blocking the device, displaying a message or deleting the device. A handy option is also the option to play a sound, if the sound of your smartphone is turned off and calling makes little sense. Incidentally, it does not matter if the smartphone is switched off, as soon as it is switched on, the blockage is immediately useful.
Block SIM
Hopefully you have taken our advice to heart and provided both your smartphone and your SIM card with a pin code. If not, a thief can not only access your data, he / she can also cost you enormously by making expensive calls abroad. For that reason, it is important to block your SIM card as soon as possible. The irony, of course, is that you need a phone for that, so you’ll have to borrow it from someone nearby.
In the past, blocking a SIM automatically meant that you had to apply for a new card, nowadays many providers offer the option to unblock the SIM themselves, if the theft proves to be a false alarm.
Declare
If both the device and the SIM are blocked remotely, you have taken the most important steps and it is time to report this to the police. We mentioned earlier in this article that the chances of getting your smartphone back are pretty slim. However, it is wise to report this to the police. Firstly, this is necessary to be able to claim your insurance (especially if your device has been stolen abroad), and it is also important to map out when and where thefts occur.
Call insurance
We probably don’t need to tell you that you need to call insurance to get your stolen phone reimbursed. What many people don’t know is that it is important to do this quickly. If your smartphone has been stolen on vacation, it is not wise to wait until you get home, for example. Call the insurance company as soon as you discover that your device has been stolen and you have taken the necessary steps.
There is a tremendous amount of fraud committed today with reporting damage and theft of smartphones, which is why insurers want to know more and more details. If you wait two weeks before calling, you have already forgotten the most important details. If you are on vacation and report the incident by telephone, then you have at least made a report, and the claim forms can be sent to your home address.
Register IMEI
Earlier in this article, we mentioned the importance of documenting your IMEI. You need this number when you report to the police, but this number can also help prevent your device from being sold on. When you surf to mobimy.info then you can register your device with the corresponding IMEI (even after it has been stolen) and indicate that it has been stolen. More and more people check this site before buying a second-hand device, and when the number is registered, the device becomes very difficult to sell. You do not immediately get your smartphone back with it, but it does prevent others from being unwillingly guilty of healing.
Tell it to friends and family
If your device is stolen, it will of course mainly have consequences for yourself. However, if you have not protected the device with a pin code, or have chosen a pin code that is very easy to crack, then it is also very sensible to let your friends and family know that your smartphone has been stolen. The number of cybercrime cases where criminals steal money from other people by impersonating a family member and sending a payment request has exploded last year.
In principle, criminals do not need your smartphone for that, but if they have it and they have access to it, then that is asking for problems. A small warning can save your friends and family a lot of trouble.
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