Recent figures show the Metropolitan Police seized more than 1,000 stolen mobile phones from thieves in a week as part of a city-wide crackdown. But, as the threat of phone theft still looms in the capital, it is important to know how to protect yourself.
For the average person, a phone holds so much of their lives, including emails, photos, personal documents and finances.
If you’re a Londoner reading this, there’s a good chance you or someone you know has had a phone snatched over the past year.
See also: The best anti-theft bags
But how can you protect your data in the event of it being stolen, and are there ways to protect yourself from phone theft at all?
How to protect yourself from your phone being stolen
It is important to be vigilant and not leave personal belongings unattended, including phones, iPads and cameras.
All it takes is a matter of seconds for thieves walking past you or riding on mopeds or bikes to get a hold of them. To make matters worse, the threat isn’t exclusive to London’s streets.
The Met has advised people to keep devices out of sight when not being used and to “be aware of your surroundings.
“Only use your mobile when it feels safe to,” the force added.
How to protect your data if your phone is stolen
The Metropolitan Police has advised that the first step is to ensure you secure your phone to make it harder for anyone to get into it.
This means you need a strong PIN, passcode, password, or pattern that prevents people from unlocking the phone.
If you face the unfortunate scenario of having your phone stolen or lost, your IMEI number, which can be found by typing *#06# into the keypad, can help track it down.
Alternatively, Apple’s ‘Find My Device’ or any other tracking app contains features to see the location of your device. Most of these services require setting up in advance. It should be used as soon as possible, ahead of thieves getting a chance to disable it.
Global cybersecurity advisor for ESET Jake Moore told the Standard: "Android theft detection lock by Google uses AI to determine a theft and Apple has Stolen Device Protection, which adds a layer of security stopping criminals from changing the PIN code, but these are not on by default so it’s worth enabling them.
“It is still important to be aware of your surroundings and know the hotspots in London, such as Oxford Street and Soho. Back up your data to the cloud and make sure tracking apps are enabled, such as Find My iPhone or Google’s Find My Device.
“It’s also advisable to use biometrics to open apps, such as email and social media, so they can’t be tampered with if they are stolen."
Another measure that needs to be taken in advance, according to the Met, is turning off message previews. This ensures others won’t be able to see reset or login codes without unlocking your phone.
You also need to ensure you have access to your data without your phone by:
What happens to stolen phones?
"Phones get blacklisted in the UK by the network operators once reported stolen; however, they will still work in some other countries”, says Mr Moore.
“Stolen phones have a habit of being sent to China, due to there being a huge market for them, but there is clearly a supply chain directly linking London to where they end up.”
What is driving phone theft?
Mr Moore says: "The problem lies in there being a thriving second-hand market abroad and limited resources from the police to finally stop the growing problem.
“There is also limited evidence for these kinds of thefts, which remains a key reason why not many can be prosecuted, but the fact that phones are high value and often out on display, is only the beginning of this organised crime.”
