Police can and do recover stolen phones, but success often depends on timely reporting, providing the IMEI, using tracking apps like "Find My" or "Find My Device," and police having enough evidence for a warrant, though they prioritize serious crimes, so direct recovery isn't guaranteed; it's crucial to file a report, block the device, and share location data with law enforcement.
So if a phone is stolen, there is a good chance that it can be traced and recovered. More than 50 lakh mobile phone details have been registered nationwide on the CEIR portal since May 16, 2023. Of these, 31 lakh devices have been blocked and 19 lakh located.
You should report it to your local police station as soon as you can by calling 101 or going in person. Your network provider will give you your phone's identification number (IMEI), which you should pass on to the police. Make a note of the crime reference number - you'll need it if you want to claim on insurance.
If your device is lost or stolen, suspending your service will help prevent additional charges from unauthorized users. Once you suspend your line, it will be inactive and unavailable for use.
Some offices accept an Affidavit of Loss/Theft with solid proof of ownership, but a police report is stronger and often required.
File a police report
While the police may not do much to try and recover the phone, filing a report—which may require the device's serial or IMEA number—means they can trace it if the phone is ever recovered.
It's always worth reporting the incident even if you don't think the phone will be recovered. You'll need a crime reference number if you want to claim insurance, and it helps the police build a picture of where crime hotspots are located.
Beyond the loss of the device, the risks are also in the stored personal and financial information, which criminals can use to access bank accounts, make unauthorized purchases, or even identity theft. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to minimize these risks.
Thieves often pass on their loot to handlers such as high street phone repair shops. Some dump the stolen goods in bins or bushes to be collected by another criminal in their network.
If the device was stolen, immediately report the theft to the police, including the make and model, serial and IMEI or MEID or ESN number. Some service providers require proof that the device was stolen, and a police report would provide that documentation. Immediately report the theft or loss to your service provider.
The IMEI can help track the phone down if it's lost or stolen.
1Find My Device: For Android Devices Enabled Find My Android
To use Find My Device to locate a lost phone that is switched off; Ensure the lost phone has Find My Device enabled in Settings > Google Services. Location service is enabled. The phone must be signed into your Google Account with location services turned on.
Immediately block your sim and change all passwords especially banking, email and work. Stay Alert, Stay Safe!
The police can access a variety of different types of data from your mobile phone, including:
The IMEI number (International Mobile Equipment Identity) allows carriers to identify cell phones. If someone reports the iPhone as stolen or lost, or if it contains unpaid balances and bills, the phone carrier will label the IMEI number as blacklisted.
SquareTrade noted 80 percent of the stolen devices are iPhones, with the iPhone 15 Pro Max most frequently stolen, followed by the iPhone 16 Pro Max and Galaxy S24 Ultra.
Many of these devices would have ended up in China. A criminal network suspected of smuggling up to 40,000 stolen phones from the UK to China over the past 12 months has been disrupted by London's Metropolitan Police.
Here are the things you should do.
If a robber has access to stolen biometric data, they could potentially use it to bypass the iPhone's security measures such as FaceID or TouchID to unlock an iPhone.
If your mobile device is lost or stolen
Make a report to NSW Police via the Community Portal. If you have tracking software installed on your device, let NSW Police know. Apps such as 'Find My Phone' or 'Find My Device' can often help locate a mobile device that has been lost or stolen.
This means that if someone steals an iPhone and attempts to reset it or activate it with a new Apple ID, they will be prompted to enter the original owner's credentials. Without these credentials, the device remains locked and essentially unusable, acting as a strong deterrent against theft.
Step 6: Contact your mobile carrier
They can disable service to your phone, and can typically mark the phone itself as unusable, even with a new SIM card or new carrier. This not only helps protect you, but someone who may unknowingly purchase a used phone that's been stolen.
The answer is that they may be able to help. The first thing you'd need to do if your phone is lost or stolen is to file a report with your local police station. They may be able to use your phone's international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) number to locate your phone.
Report it to local law enforcement. They might request the serial number of your iPhone or iPad, which you can find even if you don't have the device. Contact your wireless carrier to report your stolen iPhone.
If the phone was reported lost or stolen then the phone is blocked and basically a brick and unable to use on another carrier. The right thing to do is back up your data if there are any and then return it to the insurance company.