What To Do if Your iPhone Is Stolen
Has your Apple iPhone® been lost or stolen? Apple’s Stolen Device Protection feature (available on iOS 17.3 and later) is an important tool in protecting your personal data by enforcing a 1-hour security delay before allowing critical changes - such as resetting your Apple Account password - when your device is away from familiar locations. However, you should also take additional steps to ensure the device is marked as lost or stolen and cannot be resold.
First, you must register your device as stolen with your wireless carrier, which is the only way to register the device as stolen in the Global System for Mobile Communications Association, also known as the GSMA. Contact your insurance provider within 24 hours of the theft to begin processing a claim.
If you have been a victim of any crime related to your stolen phone, contact your local police department and file a report.
Phone theft is a growing concern - approximately 1.4 million mobile phones were stolen across the U.S. in 2023 alone, and according to security firm Lookout, 1 in 10 U.S. smartphone owners are victims of phone theft, with 68% never recovering their device. Only 25% of users remotely wipe stolen devices, and 1 in 3 victims lose sensitive personal data. Around 12% of phone thefts lead to fraudulent charges, and 9% result in identity theft - making it critical to act quickly.
Key Takeaways
- Enable Stolen Device Protection (iOS 17.3+) to require Face ID and enforce a one-hour delay before critical account changes.
- Contact your wireless carrier immediately to blacklist your iPhone’s IMEI, preventing it from being activated or resold.
- File a police report with your IMEI and serial number handy, allowing authorities to register the device in the GSMA database.
- Contact your insurance provider within 24 hours of theft, as 12% of stolen phones lead to fraudulent charges.
- Only 25% of victims remotely wipe stolen devices, leaving 1 in 3 exposed to sensitive personal data loss.
Apple’s Stolen Device Protection
Phone theft is a serious and growing problem. In the US alone, around 1.4 million mobile phones were stolen in 2023, and according to Lookout co-founder and CTO Kevin Mahaffey, 1 in 10 US smartphone owners will become a victim of phone theft - with 68% never recovering their device. Of those stolen phones, about 12% lead to fraudulent charges and 9% result in identity theft.
Apple’s Stolen Device Protection (available on iOS 17.3 and later) provides a sophisticated, multi-layered defense against unauthorized access. It combines features like Lost Mode, Face ID biometric authentication, and a Security Delay to protect your personal data even if a thief has your passcode.
When Stolen Device Protection is enabled and your iPhone is being used in an unfamiliar location, your device will require Face ID to access sensitive personal data. Critically, it also enforces a one-hour security delay before allowing high-stakes changes - such as resetting your Apple Account password or removing Face ID - giving you a window to act before a thief can lock you out permanently.
Activating Stolen Device Protection on Your iPhone
- Ensure that ‘Find My iPhone’ is activated in your device settings.
- Navigate to ‘Face ID & Passcode’ or ‘Touch ID & Passcode’ in your iPhone settings.
- Scroll down to the Stolen Device Protection section.
- Tap to enable it.
Enabling Stolen Device Protection is one of the most important steps you can take, but it works best as part of a broader response plan. Only 25% of theft victims remotely wipe their stolen devices, and 1 in 3 lose sensitive personal data as a result. If your iPhone is stolen, you should also contact your insurance provider within 24 hours to begin processing a claim, file a report with local law enforcement, and notify your carrier. If you have AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss, you can also file a claim directly through Apple.
The Necessary Next Step: Registering Your iPhone as Stolen
While Apple’s Stolen Device Protection feature helps safeguard your personal data, Apple does not automatically report your device as stolen. Registering your device as stolen is a critical step in blacklisting it from being resold. To do this, you’ll need to file a report with your local law enforcement and contact your carrier to blacklist the device. Acting quickly matters - experts recommend contacting your insurance provider within 24 hours of theft to begin processing a claim, as roughly 12% of phone thefts lead to fraudulent charges and 9% result in identity theft.
Filing a Stolen iPhone Claim with Law Enforcement
To file a claim with your local law enforcement, most jurisdictions offer the option to file online. Have both your IMEI and device serial number handy when filing the report. The steps that follow your claim will vary depending on your local law enforcement, but filing allows them to register your iPhone as a stolen device within the GSMA database, which helps prevent it from being activated or resold.
Filing a Claim with Your Carrier
If your iPhone is stolen, contacting your wireless carrier may be your best option if you have an existing insurance plan and want to replace your device quickly. Follow these steps along with any additional steps your specific carrier may require for submitting an insurance claim for a stolen device:
- Contact your carrier as soon as possible to inform them of your stolen iPhone.
- Ask whether you have stolen device protection or an insurance plan. If your iPhone is covered, you’ll be prompted to file a claim through their preferred platform. This process will include blacklisting your stolen iPhone’s IMEI to prevent it from being activated or resold.
Safe Selling Practices
To minimize phone theft, ecoATM works in collaboration with local law enforcement. We have also implemented several layers of security when selling at our kiosks:
- Security cameras: Each of our ecoATM kiosks is equipped with three high-resolution cameras monitored by a remote verification specialist in real time.
- Device security check: ecoATM utilizes CheckMEND to verify the serial numbers of valuable devices sold through our kiosks. CheckMEND is the largest source of mobile device history in the United States and confirms that a device has not been reported lost or stolen in their database.
- ID verification: Every transaction requires a valid government-issued identification card. This card is scanned and added to every transaction report.
Our investment in advanced security technology and our ongoing partnership with law enforcement has allowed us to identify cell phone thieves and help reunite victims of cell phone theft with their stolen devices. For more information on ecoATM and our security practices, check out our law enforcement section or contact us with any questions you may have.
FAQs
What is Apple's Stolen Device Protection feature?
Stolen Device Protection (available on iOS 17.3+) enforces a one-hour security delay before allowing critical account changes, like resetting your Apple Account password, when your device is in an unfamiliar location.
What should I do immediately after my iPhone is stolen?
Contact your wireless carrier to blacklist your device, file a police report with your IMEI and serial number, and notify your insurance provider within 24 hours to begin processing a claim.
How do I register my stolen iPhone with law enforcement?
Most jurisdictions allow you to file a report online. Have your IMEI and serial number ready, as law enforcement can register your device in the GSMA database to prevent it from being resold.
Can Apple automatically report my stolen device?
No. Apple does not automatically report your device as stolen. You must contact your carrier and local law enforcement to blacklist the device and prevent it from being activated or resold.
How does ecoATM help prevent stolen phone resales?
ecoATM uses high-resolution security cameras, CheckMEND serial number verification, and government-issued ID scanning at every kiosk transaction to help identify stolen devices and work with law enforcement.
