There are many things you can do now to reduce the impact of phone crime.
Always use a keypad lock or biometrics like fingerprint or facial recognition so thieves cannot immediately access your phone.
Use a tracking app. Set up a tracking app on your phone so you can see where it is from another device like a laptop. Use it as soon as possible, before thieves have a chance to disable it.
Turn off message previews. Turn off message previews, so that thieves won’t see any messages about reset or login codes when your phone is locked.
Make sure your phone data is regularly backed up, either automatically over wifi or by plugging it into a computer. And that you have somewhere – a device other than your phone - where you can get access codes sent (two-factor authentication codes) to access your data.
Keep important information like family and friends’ phone numbers and passwords somewhere else secure, not just on your phone.
Find and note your IMEI number
Short for International Mobile Equipment Identity, the IMEI number is a 15-digit unique code assigned to individual mobile devices. It helps identify your phone and, if lost or stolen, track or block it from being sold again.
How to find the IMEI number
Dial *#06# (works on any phone) - you'll see a series barcodes. Copy them and email them to yourself or write down the numbers somewhere safe - NOT just in your phone.
Another way is to find the number in your settings.
For Android: open the Settings app and tap on About phone. Scroll down and check the device IMEI.
For iPhone: you can find the serial number, EID, IMEI/MEID, CDN, and ICCID in several places, including in Settings, on the device itself, in the Finder, or on the original packaging. You can use numbers to identify your device when you contact Apple for support. Find and note your IMEI number Find the serial number, EID, or IMEI on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support
Set up a PIN for your SIM card
This stops criminals from using the SIM in another phone. Open Settings: Unlock your device and go to the Settings menu. This is usually represented by a gear icon on your home screen.
For iPhone: Go to Settings > Mobile Data > SIM PIN. If you have a Dual SIM, select the number you want to modify first.
For Android: The path may vary slightly by manufacturer, but generally, go to Settings > Security > SIM card lock or Settings > Connections > SIM card manager.
Look for an option to Lock SIM card or Set up SIM PIN. Enter the default SIM PIN provided by your carrier (often 0000 or 1111). If you don’t know that default PIN, check your carrier’s documentation or contact their customer service.
Register your phone
You can register your mobile phone free and improve your chances of getting them back if lost or stolen. Visit Immobilise for more information.