theft

No2Theft3 brings anti-theft features to jailbroken installations of iOS 13

Anthony Bouchard ∙ April 25, 2020

Just over a year ago, we showcased a sleek anti-theft jailbreak tweak for iPhones dubbed No2Theft2 by iOS developer Elias Sfeir that could sound alarms when someone began tinkering with your handset without your permission. Just this weekend, however, Sfeir released the third iteration of his popular extension dubbed No2Theft3.

Just as you’d come to expect, No2Theft3 introduces native iOS 13 support to the popular anti-theft extension. But if that wasn’t enough, it also introduces a slew of new features that will help make catching your suspected thief or prankster even easier for you.

A student files a $1 billion lawsuit against Apple, saying facial recognition led to false arrest

Christian Zibreg ∙ April 23, 2019

According to New York Post, 18-year-old Ousmane Bah from New York has filed a whopping $1 billion lawsuit against Apple over a false arrest that he believes happened because of the iPhone maker's face recognition system that's allegedly used in its retail stores.

How to check if the phone you’re buying was stolen

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated May 26, 2023

If you're in the market for a used iPhone, it's always a good idea to ask the owner to disable Find My iPhone, which automatically turns off Apple's theft-deterring Activation Lock feature.

But what if you're buying a non-Apple smartphone? Can you still check if it was stolen? As it turns out, that's exactly what CTIA’s Stolen Phone Checker service does for you.

Powered by the GSMA Device Check service, which provides up to 10 years’ of a device’s history as well as the device model information and capabilities, the free Stolen Phone Checker tool is an online service designed to help consumers, businesses and law enforcement agencies make informed purchasing decisions and limit the resale of lost and stolen mobile devices.

TUTORIAL: How to find your iPhone's IMEI number

This is a US-only service so this tutorial may not apply to international readers.

How to check if the phone you're buying was stolen

1) Visit stolenphonechecker.org/spc/consumer on your device.

2) Enter the IMEI, MEID or ESN of the phone you're about to purchase. If you're buying an iPhone, you can find this information in Settings → General → About. If you're buying a non-Apple smartphone, ask the owner to provide the IMEI number.

3) Solve the captcha and click the Submit button.

If the phone isn't stolen,“Not reported lost or stolen” should appear next to Device Status along with some useful information, including the device model, manufacturer and more.

Regular consumers are allowed to check up to find phones per day. Again, this service is limited solely to consumers in the United States.

Chinese thieves tunnel their way into a Beijing warehouse, stealing 240 iPhones

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 28, 2019

Nearly $230,000 worth of iPhones have disappeared through a 20-inch hole after a trio of daring thieves tunneled their way into a warehouse, Xinhua News Agency reported earlier in the month.

Three Chinese nationals were arrested on charges of stealing 240 iPhone 6 units, valued at 1.4 million yuan, or approximately $230,000. The suspects were arrested in late December after the police successfully tracked the phones’ serial numbers.

California smartphone ‘kill switch’ bill passes state legislature

Cody Lee ∙ Updated May 26, 2023

Earlier this year, California Senator Mark Leno introduced a new bill that would require cellphone makers to install 'kill switches' in all of their handsets, rendering them inoperable when stolen. The move comes as smartphone thefts continue to rise in major US cities.

Unsurprisingly, Leno's bill won Senate approval by a vote of 27-8 today, meaning that it's just one step away from becoming law in the state of California. All it needs now is Governor Jerry Brown's signature, and device manufacturers will have essentially a year to comply...

Activation Lock helps curb iPhone theft in New York, London and San Francisco

Joe Rossignol ∙ June 19, 2014

You may remember stories from a few years ago that described how iPhone theft was becoming a serious problem. New York mayor Michael Bloomberg even claimed that iPhone thefts had contributed to an overall rise in crime in New York City in 2012. The problem prompted Apple to team up with Google, HTC and others to help put anti-theft measures in place on smartphones.

Apple's own anti-theft measures appear to be working, as The New York Times reports that police in New York, San Francisco and London are finally seeing a decline in theft of the iPhone. The introduction of Activation Lock on iOS 7 has seen iPhone robberies drop 38 percent in San Francisco, 24 percent in London and 19 percent in New York, based on the six months before and after Apple released the feature…

Proposed CA bill would require antitheft tech in smartphones

Cody Lee ∙ Updated March 19, 2018

The New York Times is reporting that California State Senator Mark Leno plans to introduce a bill that would require all cell phones sold in the state to include antitheft technology. He hopes to curb smartphone thefts—a major problem in larger cities.

The bill is being co-sponsored by San Francisco DA George Gascón, which isn't surprising considering he's long been pushing for Apple and other manufacturers to build 'kill switches' in their devices. And if it passes, it could go into effect as early as next year...

San Francisco DA wants Apple to enable Activation Lock by default on all iPhones

Cody Lee ∙ Updated April 14, 2018

San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón released survey results yesterday that he says makes an argument for Apple to enable its Activation Lock security feature on all iPhones. The DA has been publicly leading the charge for a solution to rising cell phone thefts.

Gascón's survey indicated that 78% of respondents who owned an iPhone have enabled the security feature, and according to him, that's a clear sign that Apple should begin enabling this tech on all of its phones as a standard. He believes that it should be completely 'opt out.'

Considerate iPhone thief mails 1000 handwritten contacts to owner

Cody Lee ∙ Updated January 26, 2016

It's hard to imagine how someone could call a person who stole your iPhone 'considerate,' but that's exactly how some media outlets are referring to a certain Chinese pickpocket. The thief took a man's iPhone during a shared cab ride.

The reason why some are calling the criminal considerate is that shortly after stealing the handset, he mailed the owner a list of his contacts. And this wasn't simply a computer printout, he hand wrote over 1000 contacts–11 pages worth...

Stealing iPhones is more profitable than crack for San Francisco’s pro thieves

Ed Sutherland ∙ August 21, 2013

We've always held that the iPhone can be like a drug, its users addicted to just one more app, just one more high score. Now comes word from the horse's mouth, so to speak: criminals. Theft of the iPhone and other cellphones is increasing in popularity with criminals who once sold crack cocaine.

Turns out, a new twist on iPhone thefts can be more profitable - let alone, less dangerous - than selling drugs on the street...

Smartphone theft fight gains UK support

Ed Sutherland ∙ August 13, 2013

The issue over smartphone thefts has taken on a British flavor. London's mayor now says he supports calls by American law enforcement officials asking Apple and others to beef up ways to prevent stolen phones.

In a statement, London Mayor Boris Johnson said smartphone makers should "take this issue seriously." Already, a half-dozen American officials have joined the 'Secure Our Smartphones' campaign, stretching from Hawaii to Delaware...

Security experts contracted to attempt to bypass iOS 7’s Activation Lock feature

Cody Lee ∙ July 18, 2013

Earlier this year, San Francisco's district attorney George Gascón met with Apple's government rep Michael Foulkes to discuss the rising number of iPhone thefts. He felt like the company could be doing more, on a technological level, to thwart these would-be thieves.

Apple responded in a major way. In June, the company introduced a new feature in iOS 7 called Activation Lock, which can prevent thieves from activating a stolen handset without the proper credentials. But while Gascón says he appreciates the effort, he's not convinced...