What Tech Do iPhones Have To Prevent Theft?

The number of thefts made by snatching devices out of people’s hands has risen from 58,000 in 2023 to 99,000 in 2024, according to the Crime Survey for England and Wales.

In fact, according to government figures, a phone is stolen in the UK every six minutes and every four in London, making it a massive problem. (SW Londoner)

 

Which Areas Of The UK Have The Most Phone Theft?

 

Unsurprisingly, London leads the charge when it comes to phone theft. According to Protect Your Bubble, London has 1,250 thefts per 100,000 people – the most in the UK.

This is followed by:

2) Bedfordshire, 371
3) Hull, 361
4) West Yorkshire, 296
5) Cleveland, 272
6) Northumbria, 267
7) Manchester, 255
8) Norfolk, 234
9) Hertfordshire, 184
10) Nottinghamshire, 176

When it comes to the increase in phone thefts, London is also at the top, with a 21% rise year on year, followed by Manchester (16%), Avon and Somerset (11%) and Cambridgeshire (9%).

 

Which Devices Are Stolen The Most?

 

According to The Guardian, in 2024, 80,000 phones were stolen in London alone, up 25% from the same period in 2023. The devices had a street value of about £20m, and iPhones made up the majority.

It’s no surprise then, that phone companies have started to include anti-theft technology within their devices to help people retrieve their stolen goods – and protect their data – quickly.

So what can you do to make your iPhone more secure?

Here, we look at what tech iPhones have to prevent theft and how to set them up.

 

What Tech Do iPhones Have To Prevent Theft?

 

As iPhones give thieves access to a lot of data, including banking apps, identity images and private photos, Apple has invested a lot in anti-theft technology after the last few years. Including:

 

1. Stolen Device Protection (iOS 17.3 and Later)

Stolen Device Protection is one of Apple’s newest security features, first announced as part of its iOS 17.3 upgrade. It adds an extra layer of security when your iPhone is away from locations it knows you visit often (like your home or office).

 

How does it work?

When turned on and tracking you away from your location, your iPhone will ask you to identify yourself using Face ID or Touch ID (no password) to:

• Turn off lost mode
• Change passwords
• View passwords
• Delete anything on the device
• Access Apple wallet

It also gives the option of a waiting period or extra layer of verification for you to change things, which gives you extra time to mark your device as ‘lost’.

 

How To Enable Stolen Device Protection

• Go to Settings > Face ID & Passcode
• Enter your password
• Scroll down to Stolen Device Protection
• Tap Turn On, then choose either:
  • Away from Familiar Locations or
  • Always On

 

 

2. Find My iPhone and Lost Mode

 

Find My iPhone

Find My iPhone is Apple’s built-in tracking system that lets you find, lock, or and remove things from your phone remotely.

It works even when the iPhone is off or doesn’t have connection, thanks to the Find My network, which uses other Apple devices around to help pinpoint your phone’s location.

 

Lost Mode

If your iPhone is lost or stolen, Lost Mode locks the it and shares a custom message with contact info on the home screen. That way, if someone finds it, they know how to get in contact with you.

It also prevents the phone being able to use Apple Pay.

 

How To Enable Find My and Lost Mode

• Open Settings > [Your Name] > Find My
• Tap Find My iPhone and enable:
  • Find My iPhone
  • Find My network
  • Send Last Location

To activate Lost Mode, visit iCloud.com or use the Find My app on another Apple device.

 

3. Activation Lock

Activation Lock stops anyone from using your iPhone without your Apple ID and password – even if the device doesn’t have any data on it.

It’s automatically turned on when you switch on Find My iPhone – so follow the steps above to make sure it’s active.

With Activation Lock, even if someone tries to reset your iPhone, they won’t be able to without your logins.

 

4. AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss Coverage

Given the high volume of iPhones being stolen, Apple has created its own insurance policy to help.

AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss gives you 2 claims every 12 months, where you can get a replacement iPhone.

To qualify, Find My must be turned on at the time of the loss, and you have to mark your phone as lost – so make sure you take action as soon as it is taken.

Through AppleCare+, a replacement phone is shipped within 3-4 days, and the policy covers accidental damage too – making it a comprehensive insurance cover.

 

5. Biometric Security: Face ID & Touch ID

Face ID and Touch ID not only make it easier for you to unlock your phone – they make it harder for external people to change settings, make payments and more.

Having it turned on makes it much harder for thieves to do anything without your face or fingerprint.

 

How to Protect Your iPhone From Theft

 

iPhone theft is on the rise in the UK, luckily, there are lots of things you can do to protect your payments and data.

The days of just having a password to get into your phone are long gone. Now, Apple has a whole suite of tools to help you protect yourself.

Just make sure you have them all turned on so you can find it, or replace it, quickly.