So my iPhone was stolen today......

[Ifti]

Took my daughter for her very first swimming lesson (East London, UK).
She was getting late so my wife took her inside while I looked for parking.
Parked - exited to get the reference number for the RingGo app (first time there).
Took out my phone and was in the process of paying for the parking and two electric bikes come out of nowhere - snatched my phone and made off in a flash. I tripped in the process - not sure if my thumb is just bruised or broken but it painful - hopefully it's just bruised.

This was a 15 Pro Max 512GB. Had it since release. Running latest iOS etc.
Worst bit is phone was unlocked when it was taken as I was in the process of using it.

Within a few minutes I got onto my iCloud via my wife's phone and marked the phone as lost and set it to erase.
This also suspended all the payment cards in the wallet.
Its showing as offline so unable to track it at all - but it should just erase when its connected to the Internet.

All sensitive notes etc were protected with an additional password - so that's OK.
Banking apps all need a login, whether FaceID or passcode - so should be OK there.
I can't even get onto my banking at the moment as they use 2FA and send a code to my phone - which I don't have!

Have a replacement Sim coming in the next 3 days.
Phone was luckily covered by Applecare+ so also covered for loss and theft. Claim has been approved so bar a £109 excess I should have a new phone in the next 5 days depending on stock. Apple and the Insurer were actually really good with this.
Hence it's just the inconvenience really - and just hoping they can't access anything else on the phone. I think I have everything covered. Well, I really hope I have.

Is here anything else I can do other then set it to lost and erase mode?

Police weren't bothered. Gave me a crime reference number and said "it's been happening a lot lately" and that was it!

PLEASE guys, stay safe. It happens when you least expect it.
And above all else, PLEASE do not keep your bank cards in the case along with the phone!

Did everything on my phone. Feel completely lost at the moment! Sad really!

 

[Nermal]

I broke mine a couple of years ago. Obviously there's a bit less stress there - no worries about random people getting into it - but it still meant I was without a phone for a week and a half (a new model was about to be released so I waited for it). I was actually quite amazed at how dependent I'd become on it, and since then I've been trying to make sure that I don't introduce any further dependencies on it.

It's caused me to become annoyed with websites etc. that demand a phone number for things that shouldn't require one. Work was another issue: it happened during Covid restrictions and my employer's policy was that everyone should work from home. Logging in required entering a code on your phone. I contacted IT and asked what the process was if you didn't have a phone. "Oh, um, dunno really."

I hope you get your replacement phone without any delay.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Good thing you are ok. That is the main focus. Wise move for having sensitive access locked with further requirement. I believe you did what you could do.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I've always carried AppleCare+, but not the Theft & Loss portion. I figure if a phone gets stolen, well.... that's an unbudgeted expense. But not one I look forward to.

I'm glad you had the coverage, and that you were able to "Lock it up" so quickly.

It's unclear to me WHY people steal phones that they can't actually use... I guess just for the parts? I've read that Activation Lock is being extended to even cover the PARTS on a phone, so hopefully that'll cut down on it.

 

[now i see it]

The curse of 2FA strikes again. Missing a phone is one thing, but the hell that 2FA brings when a phone gets stolen or missing is beyond anyone’s worst nightmare. It’s a horrible technology the way it’s currently implemented.
Be prepared to be locked out of everything.

 

[Apple_Robert]

The curse of 2FA strikes again. Missing a phone is one thing, but the hell that 2FA brings when a phone gets stolen or missing is beyond anyone’s worst nightmare. It’s a horrible technology the way it’s currently implemented.
Be prepared to be locked out of everything.

Unfortunately, a lot of businesses only offer 2FA via text, which is very insecure. I wish more offered true 2FA with Keychain or third party 2FA app approvals.

I feel for the OP.

 

[Ifti]

The curse of 2FA strikes again. Missing a phone is one thing, but the hell that 2FA brings when a phone gets stolen or missing is beyond anyone’s worst nightmare. It’s a horrible technology the way it’s currently implemented.
Be prepared to be locked out of everything.

This is the main issue for me - Im locked out of bank accounts, and work accounts because the 2FA was linked to my number.
I was able to get into my Apple account OK as the 2FA came up on my cellular Apple watch at the time luckily enough, so on my wife's phone i was able to log into my iCloud via Safari and lock the phone, suspend by wallet cards, and set it to erase.
I'm just praying they haven't been able to get into anything else. I think it will be quite unlikely but there's still that risk.
Just want to get through this week so I can set up the replacement and put it behind me.

Thank you all for your comments and reassurances.

 

[AJB1971]

I had been thinking of joining the modern age and using my phone to pay for things, but then I read the following article: https://webcache.googleusercontent..../content/26be349d-4717-4815-a221-a749e29de2b2

I hope everything works out okay for you.

Edited: Updated link thanks to @koifish22

 

[Jonnod III]

I had been thinking of joining the modern age and using my phone to pay for things, but then I read the following article: https://www.ft.com/content/26be349d-4717-4815-a221-a749e29de2b2

I hope everything works out okay for you.

Paywalled, unfortunately.

 

[antiprotest]

I feel angry reading this. Sorry that happened to you. Hope no data is exploited and you are back to normal soon.

 

[koifish22]

Paywalled, unfortunately.

Here: https://webcache.googleusercontent..../content/26be349d-4717-4815-a221-a749e29de2b2

 

[VineRider]

OP, I would change my Apple ID password just to be safe.

 

[cdsapplefan]

This is the main issue for me - Im locked out of bank accounts, and work accounts because the 2FA was linked to my number.
I was able to get into my Apple account OK as the 2FA came up on my cellular Apple watch at the time luckily enough, so on my wife's phone i was able to log into my iCloud via Safari and lock the phone, suspend by wallet cards, and set it to erase.
I'm just praying they haven't been able to get into anything else. I think it will be quite unlikely but there's still that risk.
Just want to get through this week so I can set up the replacement and put it behind me.

Thank you all for your comments and reassurances.

Did you do a iCloud backup regularly or have some form of backup?

 

[noannualfee]

I’m sorry this unfortunate crime happened to you. I haven’t experienced snatching but I have carelessly left a phone down only for it to be gone minutes later.

My setup for my iPhone 15 Pro is using a Peak Design system of the Rugged Nomad x Peak Design case, a Peak Design anchor, and the wrist lanyard. During normal use at home or at the office, I use the phone regularly and the anchor hangs off the case. Whenever I’m out in public or walking the dog, I wear the wrist lanyard and clip the anchor to it whenever I need to pull my phone out. When the lanyard is not in use, it can wrap around your wrist with a magnet and it looks like a simple bracelet.

 

[cogzero]

You see, that's another reason why Android is superior. If your phone gets stolen, you at least have the satisfaction knowing the thief is now stuck with an Android phone.

Seriously though, I hope your hand feels better soon. Take care.

 

[Brandon42]

It would be interesting if Apple could design an auto-lock when it detects abnormal acceleration that matches signature of a phone being snatched suddenly. On second thought: patent pending.

 

[JamesMay82]

I’d be trying to make a local back up of your photos on the Mac if you can just in case they do get in and can delete your photos.

 

[Ifti]

Did you do a iCloud backup regularly or have some form of backup?

Yes I have a backup from the previous night. I've restored it to a spare phone I have, although cant do much without the Sim card yet!

I’m sorry this unfortunate crime happened to you. I haven’t experienced snatching but I have carelessly left a phone down only for it to be gone minutes later.

My setup for my iPhone 15 Pro is using a Peak Design system of the Rugged Nomad x Peak Design case, a Peak Design anchor, and the wrist lanyard. During normal use at home or at the office, I use the phone regularly and the anchor hangs off the case. Whenever I’m out in public or walking the dog, I wear the wrist lanyard and clip the anchor to it whenever I need to pull my phone out. When the lanyard is not in use, it can wrap around your wrist with a magnet and it looks like a simple bracelet.

I may look into something like this!

 

[Ifti]

So here's the state of the UK police......

Called the police within 15 minutes of it happened (blocked my phone off and marked as lost as a priority first).
They took some details and said an officer would contact me back.
Received a cal back around an hour later telling me they have no officers available and can I pop into the police station (15 min drive away).
Went to the station, waited 2 hours, finally saw someone who took details and gave me a reference number.

Got another call from the police at 7:15 this morning.
Said the exact same thing!!
They haven't an offer available and could I come in to the station!
If not the first available office could come out to me on 9TH JUNE - A whole week later!!!!!!
I told him I had been in to the station yesterday, after which he took the reference number from me and said they'll be in touch.

Not holding my breath!

 

[TracerAnalog]

Took my daughter for her very first swimming lesson (East London, UK).
She was getting late so my wife took her inside while I looked for parking.
Parked - exited to get the reference number for the RingGo app (first time there).
Took out my phone and was in the process of paying for the parking and two electric bikes come out of nowhere - snatched my phone and made off in a flash. I tripped in the process - not sure if my thumb is just bruised or broken but it painful - hopefully it's just bruised.

This was a 15 Pro Max 512GB. Had it since release. Running latest iOS etc.
Worst bit is phone was unlocked when it was taken as I was in the process of using it.

Within a few minutes I got onto my iCloud via my wife's phone and marked the phone as lost and set it to erase.
This also suspended all the payment cards in the wallet.
Its showing as offline so unable to track it at all - but it should just erase when its connected to the Internet.

All sensitive notes etc were protected with an additional password - so that's OK.
Banking apps all need a login, whether FaceID or passcode - so should be OK there.
I can't even get onto my banking at the moment as they use 2FA and send a code to my phone - which I don't have!

Have a replacement Sim coming in the next 3 days.
Phone was luckily covered by Applecare+ so also covered for loss and theft. Claim has been approved so bar a £109 excess I should have a new phone in the next 5 days depending on stock. Apple and the Insurer were actually really good with this.
Hence it's just the inconvenience really - and just hoping they can't access anything else on the phone. I think I have everything covered. Well, I really hope I have.

Is here anything else I can do other then set it to lost and erase mode?

Police weren't bothered. Gave me a crime reference number and said "it's been happening a lot lately" and that was it!

PLEASE guys, stay safe. It happens when you least expect it.
And above all else, PLEASE do not keep your bank cards in the case along with the phone!

Did everything on my phone. Feel completely lost at the moment! Sad really!

I had something similar happen to my (then) brand new iPad Pro. It never resurfaced on ‘find my’ and was most probably sold off for parts.

 

[Lex404]

Look out for messages in a few weeks from China, saying they bought the phone from someone for their sick daughter/ auntie and they want you to remove it from iCloud. Or they "have your data, including cards and everything so you have to delete it from iCloud".

Don't believe anything, they'll send you some pics with a gun and FBI badge, it's all ******** to make you remove the Find My so they can resell it.

 

[Shirasaki]

Unfortunately, a lot of businesses only offer 2FA via text, which is very insecure. I wish more offered true 2FA with Keychain or third party 2FA app approvals.

I feel for the OP.

That doesn’t matter if said keychain etc is tied to the device, which in the event of loss or theft, could mean the user is out of access of all accounts requiring 2FA. Apple one is a bit more flexible that it supports more than 1 device to offer 2FA code, but still.

 

[Unami]

The curse of 2FA strikes again. Missing a phone is one thing, but the hell that 2FA brings when a phone gets stolen or missing is beyond anyone’s worst nightmare. It’s a horrible technology the way it’s currently implemented.
Be prepared to be locked out of everything.

Yeah, i'd rather take the risk of having my credentials stolen than deal with that stupid 2FA (+very often a short but hard to remember password requiring numbers, uppercase and special characters) again.

Really, everything that used to take 3 seconds now takes a minute with looking for your phone, unlocking the phone, opening one of 100 apps that use that 2fa, navigating to the code, entering that, waiting for confirmation. This has to cost billions in worktime.

 

[Lex404]

For 2FA, get a physical key that you use to access a cloud place where things are stored. Like:
Use 2FAS to store 2FA
use iCloud to backup the keys from 2FAS
use a physical key (Yubikey) to access iCloud and a password manager (if you use something else than keychain).
get 2 keys and keep them separately.

 

[Ifti]

Look out for messages in a few weeks from China, saying they bought the phone from someone for their sick daughter/ auntie and they want you to remove it from iCloud. Or they "have your data, including cards and everything so you have to delete it from iCloud".

Don't believe anything, they'll send you some pics with a gun and FBI badge, it's all ******** to make you remove the Find My so they can resell it.

Didnt think of this - thank you! Will watch out for any such contact.

At the moment I've left the phone in my 'Find My', which I knew was a condition for the Applecare claim to be processed. Its marked as 'to be erased as soon as it comes online'.
Should I leave it in that state for the foreseeable?