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

[okkibs]

Worst bit is phone was unlocked when it was taken as I was in the process of using it.

If you use an AW you can create a Focus that is specifically for locking the iPhone, by launching an automation that locks the screen and disables airplane mode. Then in this situation if you are super quick you can lock it before the thieves have brought it outside of bluetooth range.

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

No, and you shouldn't do anything else regarding this iPhone. Don't remove it from anywhere on your account, don't remove it from trusted devices, just leave it be. The FInd My functionality isn't explained all that well by Apple and in the worst case you can accidentally remove it from your account which might allow the iPhone to be reused.

Unfortunately there is no way to know if the thieves turned the entire iPhone off which would protect your personal data stored on the iPhone or if they only put it into airplane mode and kept it unlocked for a while to see if they can get personal data. But they might have shut it down immediately just to try and prevent tracking, or it might have locked when ripping it out of your hands as the power button is easily pressed.

They usually just want the hardware anyways and don't care about your data. And since you locked it so quickly that probably prevented abuse of Apple Pay.

If you used an eSIM on that iPhone the thieves can't see your phone number, if it was a regular SIM card they will eventually put it in a different phone and send you spam messages pretending to be Apple or otherwise try to get you and unlock the iPhone. If it was a regular SIM card I recommend changing your phone number to avoid that spam.

It happens when you least expect it.

That's exactly right, I was robbed in a similar fashion as well though they were on foot and when I read some of the posts here claiming we just have to be vigilant I know they've never been in this situation. For me it happened in the street I live in during the few seconds I looked into my bag to get my house keys. It doesn't matter if you are super careful 99% of the time, they'll be there that one moment you don't expect it.

You'll keep replaying the moment for a while and that's normal and over time it goes away. You are mostly physically uninjured and thankfully had the insurance so as silly as it might sound this went as well for you as it possibly could have. The one thing I took away from my experience is that I try not to wear or show anything that would make me a target in the first place, at least in some places it's not the best idea to have Airpods sticking out your ear or the AW visible. Or I choose to walk a different path sometimes.

 

[Ifti]

If you use an AW you can create a Focus that is specifically for locking the iPhone, by launching an automation that locks the screen and disables airplane mode. Then in this situation if you are super quick you can lock it before the thieves have brought it outside of bluetooth range.


No, and you shouldn't do anything else regarding this iPhone. Don't remove it from anywhere on your account, don't remove it from trusted devices, just leave it be. The FInd My functionality isn't explained all that well by Apple and in the worst case you can accidentally remove it from your account which might allow the iPhone to be reused.

Unfortunately there is no way to know if the thieves turned the entire iPhone off which would protect your personal data stored on the iPhone or if they only put it into airplane mode and kept it unlocked for a while to see if they can get personal data. But they might have shut it down immediately just to try and prevent tracking, or it might have locked when ripping it out of your hands as the power button is easily pressed.

They usually just want the hardware anyways and don't care about your data. And since you locked it so quickly that probably prevented abuse of Apple Pay.

If you used an eSIM on that iPhone the thieves can't see your phone number, if it was a regular SIM card they will eventually put it in a different phone and send you spam messages pretending to be Apple or otherwise try to get you and unlock the iPhone. If it was a regular SIM card I recommend changing your phone number to avoid that spam.


That's exactly right, I was robbed in a similar fashion as well though they were on foot and when I read some of the posts here claiming we just have to be vigilant I know they've never been in this situation. For me it happened in the street I live in during the few seconds I looked into my bag to get my house keys. It doesn't matter if you are super careful 99% of the time, they'll be there that one moment you don't expect it.

You'll keep replaying the moment for a while and that's normal and over time it goes away. You are mostly physically uninjured and thankfully had the insurance so as silly as it might sound this went as well for you as it possibly could have. The one thing I took away from my experience is that I try not to wear or show anything that would make me a target in the first place, at least in some places it's not the best idea to have Airpods sticking out your ear or the AW visible. Or I choose to walk a different path sometimes.

Thank you for this - yes keep going over it in my head and wondering if it was actually real or not!
But some good information I will most certainly take note of - thank you so much for your time.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

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?

Yes - I believe the theft & loss insurers (AIG in US, not sure about UK) move it to their own account at some point? If not, they’ll let you know when you can remove it.

 

[NVDA]

I would be concerned why I’m viewed as a mark if I was OP. Work on your situational awareness, bud.

 

[kc9hzn]

Back in 2019 (day before Thanksgiving, no less), I was on the NYC subway. I was using my phone and eating some churros (and didn’t want to get the phone dirty, so I had my arms extended out a little). Some punk kid tried to rip my phone from my hands! I put up a fight and managed to keep ahold of the phone, and I ended up tripping him when he tried to break away and run off towards the train. Really, I don’t understand that one. As soon as I put up a fight, don’t you think he would’ve decided to move onto an easier mark or tried to escape the subway platform?

I’ll admit, my flight, fight, freeze response was fully pegged to fight, and, despite keeping my phone, I chased off after him to fight (or at least, confront) him. Thankfully for both of us, he managed to get onto the train, and I didn’t.

 

[Ifti]

Yes - I believe the theft & loss insurers (AIG in US, not sure about UK) move it to their own account at some point? If not, they’ll let you know when you can remove it.

Yes its AIG in the UK as well.
The claim was placed and approved yesterday, so they told me to just wait for tracking information now.
AIG stated they inform Apple of the approval so that, pending stock, a handset can be shipped out to me. Although I rang Apple to ask if I could collect from a store but they tell me that AIG deal with it all and the shipping details and the handset would come from them...... so not sure where its coming from now, but just need to wait 2-5 days.
I'm guessing it will be an Apple refurbished handset.

 

[TechnoMonk]

Be safe. Glad it wasn’t serious. Devices can be replaced, you will get your access back, it’s an inconvenience. None of this worth more than safety.

 

[TechnoMonk]

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.

My friends phone was stolen in gym. The phone popped up in Africa on find my and went dark. Most likely, sold off for parts.

 

[cjsuk]

You were lucky. A friend of mine was punched in the face by one of those bastards in Leyton and had her iPhone 14 stolen. Fractured jaw.

It's just a phone at the end of the day. Got a crime reference number then claim on insurance. Hope any minor injuries heal.

As for the criminals, it's a profitable enterprise. I've travelled the world and I feel the least safe in East London, which is one reason I live on the other side now 🤣. I felt MUCH safer in some ex soviet dystopia I went to where my phone was a year's salary there.

Also someone tried to stab me in Leytonstone about 20 years ago, fortunately unsuccessfully. The police sent a letter out to me apologising for not attending and if I wanted to talk to someone here's a helpline. Things are useless still then clearly.

 

[TechnoMonk]

You were lucky. A friend of mine was punched in the face by one of those bastards in Leyton and had her iPhone 14 stolen. Fractured jaw.

It's just a phone at the end of the day. Got a crime reference number then claim on insurance. Hope any minor injuries heal.

As for the criminals, it's a profitable enterprise. I've travelled the world and I feel the least safe in East London, which is one reason I live on the other side now 🤣. I felt MUCH safer in some ex soviet dystopia I went to where my phone was a year's salary there.

Are the cops in London asleep? I am assuming it happened in London.

 

[cjsuk]

Are the cops in London asleep? I am assuming it happened in London.

They are ****ing useless at the best of times. They are either incompetent or negligent and nothing in between.

 

[tosbsas]

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!

Did you change your AppleID password? And your Main E-Mail password too?

Be prepared to get sms,calls, E-Mails and WhatsApp telling you your phone has been found and a link to Access its Position. All with Apple Logo and stuff and all Fake.

Delete the phone from trusted devices but keep it in Find my phone. That way activacion lock Stays active.

Same thing happened to me a month ago. calls and sms came few days later at night

 

[makingmark]

If you use an AW you can create a Focus that is specifically for locking the iPhone, by launching an automation that locks the screen and disables airplane mode. Then in this situation if you are super quick you can lock it before the thieves have brought it outside of bluetooth range.

Thanks for the great idea. I was able to add this in about 5 minutes, roughly:

1. Go to settings on iPhone > add a Focus mode (I called mine Lock). I didn't make any more customizations, just added this mode
2. Go to Automations in iOS Shortcuts app. Add a Personal Automation. Scroll down till you see Lock, tap, When Turning On, Run Immediately > Next
3. New Blank Automation, Add Action
4. Add in this order (probably in most situations only the first is needed but the rest can't hurt)
   • Lock the screen
   • Turn Airplane Mode Off
   • Turn Bluetooth On
   • Turn Cellular Data On
   • Turn Wi-Fi On

I then tested this while my iPhone was unlocked to see that it worked when triggered from Apple Watch.

EDIT: @okkibs has a better idea below - just turn on Lost Device in Find Devices on Apple Watch (Green circle with a laptop +phone icon). It's legit, I tested it - after turning it off, you have to both do a Face/Touch ID and re-enter your Apple password to regain full access e.g. to Wallet.

 

[AgeOfSpiracles]

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?

Forever, I would think. No skin off your back.

 

[okkibs]

The curse of 2FA strikes again.

I recommend everyone to get 2 Yubikey NFS security keys and link them to the Apple ID. Keep one on your keychain or on your body and the other in a safe location or at home. If you want put a third one on your wife's keychain. As long as you have one of these nearby you will always be able to login. If you lose them all or don't have them nearby you can still use another logged in Apple device (and remove the Yubikeys if they are indeed all lost).

Downside: 2FA is disabled as long as the Yubikeys are in use. Or rather the Yubikeys become the 2FA. But that's part of the point of doing this, nobody else can login without being in possession of one of those Yubikeys.

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

Oh... I just realize you had a cellular AW on you at the time. You can open the Find My app on the AW "Find Devices" in main menu and set the iPhone to lost mode straight from your AW... might be worth trying out when you get the new iPhone.

Delete the phone from trusted devices but keep it in Find my phone. That way activacion lock Stays active.

Do not delete the iPhone from trusted devices, if you do you get a "Remove device from account" confirmation and that will delete it from Find My and possibly remove the activation lock.

It does not matter if the iPhone remains a trusted device, it's set to erase itself next time it goes online.

Thanks for the great idea. I was able to add this in about 5 minutes, roughly:

That's pretty much how I have set it up. I recommend testing it and memorizing it so you can quickly use it in such a situation. Since you'll be very distraught in the moment you'll have to remember to quickly push the side button, select the focus icon and focus and then set it to "on". In an actual theft situation you might not be able to do it fast enough although the bluetooth range of the AW is excellent in my experience.

 

[Ifti]

Did you change your AppleID password? And your Main E-Mail password too?

Be prepared to get sms,calls, E-Mails and WhatsApp telling you your phone has been found and a link to Access its Position. All with Apple Logo and stuff and all Fake.

Delete the phone from trusted devices but keep it in Find my phone. That way activacion lock Stays active.

Same thing happened to me a month ago. calls and sms came few days later at night

Thank you - yes Apple ID password etc changed.
In fact what I have done is restored the most recent backup (which was from early in the morning on the same day luckily) to a spare phone I have. Although I have no sim it was enough for me to see which apps I had that would auto login without any FaceID/Passcode.
So apps like eBay, Amazon, YouTube, etc.
I then went through each and changed passwords via the websites direct, just to be on the safe side.

Everything else - so banking apps, my vehicle app, my CCTV cameras, etc were all set to use FaceID to login and open the app in the first instance. And all my wallet cards were suspended as soon as it was placed into lost mode.
I had some user logins and sensitive data in my notes, but these were all password protected, so again no entry without a password.
I also keep a photo of family passports and other ID on my phone, but these were all placed in the 'Hidden' album, and FaceID was used to open the album. Otherwise all other photos were general family pics.

This is all assuming they can even get into the phone considering it is set to lost mode, and to erase as soon as it comes online (if it ever comes online).

Not sure what else i could do TBH.

Thanks for the heads up on the possible contact - will remain very vigilant for the foreseeable!

Oh... I just realize you had a cellular AW on you at the time. You can open the Find My app on the AW "Find Devices" in main menu and set the iPhone to lost mode straight from your AW... might be worth trying out when you get the new iPhone.

I didn't even know I could do this. I could have done that instantly. Lesson learnt - thank you.
There was a window of around 10 minutes where they would have had access as fortunately I was able to quickly find my wife and used her phone to login to my iCloud and lock mine.
I'm hoping in that 10 minutes they were scrambling away and weren't able to do much. I'm glad I had all sensitive data behind additional passwords/FaceID!

Thank you

 

[Ifti]

Whatever happens, the iPhone is being replaced via AppleCare. At this point I do not want the old one back no matter what notifications I receive telling me it's been located.
Chances of it actually being located and retrievable at this point are obviously very, very slim.

Just wish I had a chance to find out who the guy was, and be put into a MMA ring with him!

 

[Ifti]

Good news - just had an email from AIG to say the replacement is on its way - label being generated.
Had an email from my cellular provider today to say the replacement sim has also shipped.
Hopefully 2 or 3 days and i should be back up and running - with a very valuable lesson learnt on never to use my phone in public. It's a shame it has to come to that but needs must.

 

[Shirasaki]

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.

Hardware key is an extra expense, plus it too has risk of being lost or stolen, and revoking it can be challenging.
Also, few websites supporting 2FA also supports using hardware key to authenticate, and smart card support is still limited in high security professional setting, with few business level laptops having hardware ready, plus it has import and export restrictions.

 

[Lex404]

It is indeed an extra expense and you need two of them.

But they last quite long and can be used for multiple logins.

So you can use 2FAS with yubikey(s) in parallel.

Set most important stuff with both keys and 2FAS

And you’re sure you don’t get locked out.

 

[antiprotest]

There was a window of around 10 minutes where they would have had access as fortunately I was able to quickly find my wife and used her phone to login to my iCloud and lock mine.

Can someone quickly walk me through how to do this?

I see that in the Find My app, under the "Me" tap, scroll to the bottom, there is a "help a friend" link. Do I go in there?

And I assume I will need to have my iCloud password memorized?

Don't need to know this right now, but seeing OP's experience reminds me that I should make sure I learn this.

 

[Lex404]

Help a friend it just sends you to the iCloud page ( icloud.com/find ) where the friend log ins (so yes, you need to know the user and password -- I tried to log in now in incognito and for /Find it looks like they're not asking for 2FA).

However, OP had their wife as family member and across family all devices appear in Find My (location optional), you can quickly lock any family device, or play a sound.

 

[NickYanakiev]

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!

Same thing happened to me yesterday. Same phone, a guy on an electric bike came from behind and snatched my phone.

To make things worse, I had my driver's license in the case too.

Thank god I have Apple Care Plus with Theft and Loss, claim was approved immediately. So incredibly stressful, however. People, keep your phones in your pockets when outside..

 

[unregbaron]

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!

So sorry to hear but great you had Apple care and also your wife to cancel stuff. Also great you reported it - this helps authorities have an accurate picture of what’s going on. My worry if/when it happens to me how will I get a replacement SIM without access to a phone - can you go into the phone company store with ID?

 

[Ifti]

Can someone quickly walk me through how to do this?

I see that in the Find My app, under the "Me" tap, scroll to the bottom, there is a "help a friend" link. Do I go in there?

And I assume I will need to have my iCloud password memorized?

Don't need to know this right now, but seeing OP's experience reminds me that I should make sure I learn this.

I used my wife's phone, as luckily she was inside the building with my daughter. Just had to run and find her!
Nevertheless, you would need access to ANY phone or computer. Don't try it on your phone as obviously should this happen you will not have your phone with you! Somewhere where you can log into iCloud via a web browser. Once logged in use Find My to track the device, and you can set it to lost mode from there. This will also suspend all the cards you have in your wallet.
It's good to try it beforehand so you know the process.

Stupid me didn't realise i could have just used my Apple watch (its on cellular) to do the same thing instantly!

Same thing happened to me yesterday. Same phone, a guy on an electric bike came from behind and snatched my phone.

To make things worse, I had my driver's license in the case too.

Thank god I have Apple Care Plus with Theft and Loss, claim was approved immediately. So incredibly stressful, however. People, keep your phones in your pockets when outside..

Can I ask which area?
Wonder if you were local and it was the same guys!
Unlikely I know, but just curious.
I hope you get your replacement issued asap. Mine happened Sunday - I started the claim on Sunday too. I did this via phone as it kept coming up with errors online, and it was accepted straight away at the same time. Just checked my tracking and the replacement is estimated for delivery today - which would be a 2 day turnaround and is very impressive!

So sorry to hear but great you had Apple care and also your wife to cancel stuff. Also great you reported it - this helps authorities have an accurate picture of what’s going on. My worry if/when it happens to me how will I get a replacement SIM without access to a phone - can you go into the phone company store with ID?

I had to call my cell provider - provide some security details, after which he reissued a new card (which cancels the existing at the same time). That was quite easy.
I think with some providers you can actually walk into a store with some ID and get one on the spot (I didn't know this until after I had the new one reissued).