Who doesnt count their phone as one of their most precious items? From cute pet pics to all the admin apps that make life so much easier, many would be lost without their mobile to hand. Which is why the rising crimewave of phone thefts sweeping the UK is a major concern.
Clients seeking the advice of Kirsty Henderson, founder and owner of security firm Personal Safety London (PSL), have either suffered the misery of having a smartphone stolen, or are keen to avoid this nightmare from becoming a reality.
And given that there were more than 78,000 police-reported phone thefts in England and Wales in the year to March 2024, according to the Office for National Statistics - the highest number in more than two decades - learning how to better protect yourself from this eventuality is a very wise move either way.
Some criminals hope to steal your data, others are after the hardware of the newer phones - theyll wipe the contents, sell them on, says Kirsty.
Kirsty Henderson, founder and owner of security firm Personal Safety London, advises mobile users to keep their phones out of site in public - and not in a handbag which can be grabbed
Alarming as this is, she adds, theres absolutely no point scaring yourself because then you wont be able to think straight. Its far more helpful to adopt simple practical strategies to minimise risk.
This may require shaking off comfortable habits (no headphones on your run, and no scrolling social media on the train). If its any consolation, the security experts at PSL practise what they preach. None of our team wears headphones. And we dont use our phones in the street - at all, says Kirsty.
Here, she explains how you can keep your smartphone safe - and save yourself a lot of grief.
RETHINK YOUR COMMUTE
Most people who get to work via public transport use their commute time to read the news, or listen to music on their phone. And on the return journey, theyll use it again - as a digital air gap, a way of decompressing.
In that sense, its psychologically useful. But while most people regard travel time as an opportunity to relax, its when youre at most risk of having your phone swiped.
That doesnt mean spending the entire journey in a state of fear and tension - which is unnecessary and debilitating. Aim for relaxed alertness. Put your tech away, and discover something else to do that amuses you. Call me old-fashioned, I love to read a paperback.
IF YOU REALLY MUST GET YOUR PHONE OUT, GO INTO A CAFE OR SHOP
There were more than 78,000 phone thefts in England and Wales in the year to March 2024 - the highest number in more than two decades, according to the Office for National Statistics
If you must use your phone in public, go into a safe space first. That could be a cafe, hotel lobby, or shop. Though do remain aware of whos around you. (Important note: placing your phone on the table in a coffee shop is a no-no - easy for someone to approach you, distract you, and pinch your device. Not to mention that if youre with a companion its impolite.)
Meanwhile, Im sorry to disappoint millions of commuters, but a train, bus, or tube station is not a safe space. And if you have no option but to get your phone out on the street, at least ensure theres a wall or a parked car behind you. Do you have a clear view of anyone in the vicinity, whether on pavement or road? Stay aware of your perimeters, as we like to say. Is anyone close? Distance is your friend.
Check your surroundings before getting out your £600+ tech on the street. Stay in one spot now - dont meander dreamily along.
DONT USE YOUR PHONE ON THE STREET
If youve worked and lived in your city for decades, but couldnt direct a tourist from A to B, youre in the majority.
But this makes you reliant on your phone during your journey - you scurry to your destination holding your device like a divining rod, squinting over Google maps. And that makes it visible, and you vulnerable, to anyone with nefarious intentions. Plus, its handily unlocked giving criminals easy access to all your information. Use a little forethought.
Work out where exactly youre going, and plan your route in advance. Learning to navigate without your phone is a skill - it requires recognising landmarks - but anyone can learn.
STOP WEARING HEADPHONES WHEN YOURE OUT AND ABOUT
Tempting as it is to retreat into your own happy little world of 90s pop or that comedy podcast on your travels, wearing headphones increases the chance of being approached by someone keen to relieve you of your phone. Simply, youre an easier target because youre oblivious to whats going on around you. Or as we say in the security business, your spatial and auditory awareness is reduced.
Is one earphone acceptable? Sadly, no! It still blunts your natural ability to sense imminent danger. So, on your commute, we strongly suggest no headphones. On your run, we also suggest no headphones.
CHANGE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR DEVICE
From a security point of view, our relationship with our phone is often unwise. Many of us use it as a crutch to ease social discomfort, or boredom. Theres often a psychological dependence - we find it remarkably hard to go five minutes without checking it. It makes us less observant, and anyone hoping to acquire a phone for free can exploit that. Making calls while walking along? Change that habit.
KEEP YOUR PHONE IN A DISCREET POCKET
Keep it in a non-obvious inside pocket, not in your handbag - and certainly not in your hand. So many of us get out of a car clutching our phone like a good luck charm. For better luck, keep it out of sight. In the back pocket of your jeans? Asking for trouble!
As for why we advise against keeping phones in handbags - perhaps Im a pessimist, but I work from the assumption that a bag can be grabbed. We say, keep your phone (and your keys, and your money) on your person. The team uses body pockets - theyre sling-on, and go under your clothing, under your arm, or around your waist. I personally favour the under-arm option - no ones reaching into that sensitive area without my noticing.
SIX THINGS YOU MUST DO NOW TO STOP THIEVES GETTING ACCESS TO YOUR DATA - EVEN IF ITS STOLEN
1. Activate biometric security features like fingerprint or facial recognition to prevent access if your phone is stolen. For users of iPhone iOS 17.3 or later, turn on Stolen Device Protection. (Open the Settings app, tap Face ID & Passcode, enter your device passcode, tap Stolen Device Protection, and turn on Stolen Device Protection.)
Then some actions, such as accessing stored passwords and credit cards, will require a single biometric authentication with Face ID or Touch ID – with no passcode alternative. Note: to turn on Stolen Device Protection, you must use two-factor authentication for your Apple account, and you need to have Find My turned on.
2. Consider an anti-theft app - these typically allow you to track the location of your phone in real time, remotely lock the device to prevent unauthorised access and wipe data to protect your personal information.
Find My iPhone (Apple) and Find My Device (Android) are built-in apps offering location tracking, remote locking and data wiping. Go to the settings app in your phone, tap on your name, then tap on Find My iPhone - it will say on if its enabled.
For Android phones, open the settings app. Then tap Google, then tap Find My Device, and make sure its turned on. For it to work, your device must be connected to a Google account.
3. Also using Find My, you can select your device to see its location on a map. If you think its nearby, you can also use Play Sound to locate it. You can also turn on Share My Location with family. If you turn on Find My Network, you can locate your device (from, e.g. your Mac - tap in Find My on the Mac) even when its offline.
4. Contact your mobile phone service provider to suspend service. O2, for example, says on their website that you should inform them within 24 hours, and they will block your device and send you a new Sim with your existing number.
Network provider EE says to call them as soon as possible, and once youve reported your device as stolen, they can block it so no one else can use it on their network, and suspend your account. They will also send you a new Sim card (pay for delivery or get one for free in an EE store).
You can also log into iCloud.com/find, select your device, and select Mark As Lost. In Lost Mode, your device is locked with a passcode, and payment cards and passes that you use with Apple Pay are suspended. But Find My will need to have been turned on before your phone was stolen.
5. Go onto another device, open, eg, Google Chrome, and open your Google Account. In the Security section, find Your devices. Select Manage devices. Next to Account Access select Sign out. Follow the on-screen instructions to remove access to your Google Account and connected apps on your device.
6. To wipe your phone remotely, open the Find My app on your Mac. Click Devices, select the one you want to erase, then click on the map. Click erase this device. Enter a phone number or message (to display on its screen), then click Erase. Youll then need to enter your Apple Account password, then click Erase again. To remotely erase a phone, youll need to have added it to Find My before it was stolen. On android.com/find, select the device, and choose Erase Device to delete all data.
- personalsafetylondonuk.com