No one is safe from phone theft. Here is what you should do first to secure your personal data if you are the victim of this unpleasant mishap.
Having your smartphone stolen is a mishap that can happen to anyone. Public transport in large cities is teeming with pickpockets and street snatching is very common. And if it is difficult to protect yourself against these theft attempts, you might as well anticipate the situation by knowing how to react once the misdeed has been committed. The chances of recovering your precious mobile are extremely slim, but you can nevertheless prevent the thief from rummaging through its contents, getting their hands on sensitive data and even being able to use it. In all cases, you must act immediately, without delay!
First reflex to adopt: lock the smartphone remotely. This function is active by default, regardless of the device, whether it is an iPhone or an Android. If the smartphone was unlocked at the time of the theft, it will allow you to lock it using the PIN code or pattern you have defined. On the other hand, if the thief spied on you before committing his crime and if he knows your unlock code, this protective measure will not be of much use.
To remotely lock the device, simply go to the service Find My Device from Google for an Android smartphone or on the service Locate from Apple if it is an iPhone. Note that you can use any computer or even a loved one’s smartphone to do this. You simply need to remember your username and password for the Google or Apple account associated with your smartphone. On iPhones, access to bank cards stored on the device is then automatically disabled.
These services also allow you to locate the device on a map, even if the geolocation function (GPS) was turned off. The device uses GSM and Wi-Fi networks to establish its position. Note that the Google service also allows you to know the IMEI number of the device. Write it down, it will be useful to you later.
Finally, the ultimate and nevertheless essential option if you think your smartphone is permanently lost: delete its content remotely. When you activate this option the device is reset to its factory state and everything it contains (your accounts, personal data, photos, bank cards, etc.) is deleted. The downside is that you will no longer be able to locate it.
Once the device is secure, you must notify your operator of the theft in order to suspend your line. An operation that takes place on the Internet. Here again, you need to know the username and password associated with your telephone line to access your personal space. Your operator will send you – for a fee – a new SIM card at your request when you have a new mobile. You will keep your telephone number in passing.
Finally, all you have to do is go to the nearest police station or gendarmerie station to file a complaint. In particular, you will be asked for the IMEI number of the device (it also appears on its packaging). It will allow it to be registered in a register of stolen smartphones in order to make it unusable, in France at least.