Having your phone stolen can be a distressing experience, but knowing the right steps to take can help you protect your data, limit financial loss, and increase your chances of recovering the device. To help your situation, below is a detailed guide on what to do if your phone is stolen, covering everything from immediate actions to longer-term considerations.
1. Lock & Track Your Phone
Most smartphones today come with built-in features that allow you to lock and locate your device remotely. Therefore, depending on whether you have an iPhone or Android smartphone, below is how to use these features:
- For iPhones: Use the “Find My” app, which, if enabled, allows you to view your phone’s location, play a sound, mark it as lost (which locks the device and displays a custom message with your contact information), or erase the device remotely.
- For Android Phones: Use Google’s “Find My Device” service, which is similar to the iPhone as you can locate, lock, or erase your phone remotely.
It’s important to note that these features only work if they were set up prior to the theft, so it’s wise to activate them when you first get your phone.
2. Report The Theft To Your Network Provider
The next step is to contact your mobile network provider as soon as possible as they can block your SIM card, preventing the thief from making calls, sending texts, or using your data. In some cases, they can also block the phone’s IMEI number, making the device useless to the thief.
Depending on your network provider, they may offer to cap any unauthorised charges made within a short period after the theft, which can save you significant costs.
3. Inform The Police
After informing your network provider, you should also report the theft to the police as soon as you can and provide them with the phone’s IMEI number, which you can obtain from your network provider if you don’t already have it. Once reported, the police will give you a crime reference number, which is essential if you need to make an insurance claim.
Reporting the theft increases the chances that the phone might be recovered, which is important if you haven’t backed it up and don’t want to lose any data (i.e. photos).
4. Notify Your Insurance Provider
If your phone is covered by insurance, contact your provider to report the theft. When reporting the theft, you’ll need to provide details of the incident along with the crime reference number.
At Dynamo Cover, our gadget insurance policies include protection against phone theft worldwide, giving you peace of mind wherever you are.
5. Change Your Account Passwords
Your phone likely holds access to sensitive accounts such as email, banking, and social media. Therefore, it’s essential to change your passwords for these accounts immediately.
We recommend starting with your email account, as it’s often the gateway to other services. If you use two-factor authentication (2FA) and it’s linked to your stolen phone, update those settings as well.
6. Consider Your Replacement Options
Once you’ve secured your accounts and reported the theft, consider your next steps for replacing the phone:
- Replacement Via Insurance: If insured, your provider might cover the cost of a new phone. To see if this is the case, check the terms of your policy to see what’s covered and what excess fees you might have to pay.
- Buy A New Phone: If you aren’t insured, or if insurance doesn’t cover the full cost, you may need to buy a new phone. If this is the case, you might choose to continue with your current contract and get a replacement handset, or you may wait until your contract ends and start a new one with a new phone included.
7. Register Your New Phone
Once you have a replacement, whether it’s through insurance or a new purchase, be sure to register the device with tracking services like Find My iPhone or Google’s Find My Device. Also, consider registering your phone on Immobilise, a national property register, to increase your chances of recovery if it’s lost or stolen again.
8. Preventative Measures For The Future
To protect yourself against future phone thefts, consider taking the following steps:
- Regular Backups: Ensure that your data is backed up regularly, either via cloud services or to your computer. This way, if your phone is stolen, you can restore your data to a new device quickly.
- Use Strong Security Features: Set up a strong passcode, enable biometric authentication (like fingerprint or facial recognition), and activate any available security features on your phone.
- Be Cautious with Your Phone in Public: Phones are prime targets for theft, especially in crowded places. Therefore, keep your phone secure and avoid using it in risky areas or situations.
Final Words
Having your phone stolen is undoubtedly stressful, but knowing what to do can significantly mitigate the impact. From immediately locking and tracking the device to reporting the theft and managing your replacement options, every step plays a vital role in protecting your information and finances.
At Dynamo Cover, we understand the importance of safeguarding your gadgets, which is why our comprehensive insurance plans are designed to provide you with peace of mind in such unfortunate events.
Stay proactive, stay secure, and ensure that you’re covered for whatever may come your way.
