Quick checklist
- Secure your phone immediately using Google security features on Android or Apple security features on iPhone.
- Find your IMEI number by dialing *#06#. Write it down and store it safely.
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If your phone was stolen, remember these key steps:
- Lock the device remotely. Use Find My or Google Find Hub where available
- Tell your employer or IT team if it’s a business device
- Contact your mobile network provider or Mobifon (if you are our customer)
- Request a replacement SIM or eSIM card.
- Change your key passwords.
- Check your financial and online accounts
- Report the theft to the police
- Don’t attempt to recover the phone yourself
- Be alert for phishing messages claiming your phone has been found
Introduction
Mobile phone theft remains a concern across the UK, and losing a phone can mean much more than replacing an expensive handset.
Your mobile may contain access to business email, banking, customer information, cloud storage, authentication apps and other sensitive services. If it’s stolen, acting quickly can help protect your personal information, accounts and business data.
The good news is that modern smartphones include several security features designed to help you lock, locate or erase a stolen device. Businesses can also take mobile phone theft protection further with Mobile Device Management.
This guide explains what to do if your phone is stolen, how to report a stolen phone, how to protect your device before theft happens and why mobile security matters for businesses.
Mobile phone theft statistics UK: what the latest figures show
The latest 2026 figures show that mobile phone theft remains a significant issue, although targeted policing is helping reduce offences in some areas.
According to the Metropolitan Police, mobile phone theft from the person and robbery offences involving a stolen mobile phone fell by 20.6% in London between January and May 2026, compared with the same period in 2025.
That represents 6,700 fewer offences.
London is only part of the picture. The latest Office for National Statistics figures for England and Wales show that police recorded 121,161 theft from the person offences in the year ending March 2026, a 20% reduction compared with the previous year.
So, while the latest figures show a positive reduction in some areas, mobile phone security remains important.
Why mobile phone security matters
Mobile phones have become an essential part of modern working.
For a business user, a smartphone may provide direct access to:
- Business email
- CRM systems
- Finance and accounting applications
- HR systems
- Password managers
- Authentication tools
- Cloud storage
- Customer information
- Internal communications
- Business documents
A stolen device could therefore create risks that go far beyond the cost of replacing the handset.
Someone who gains access to an unlocked or poorly protected device could potentially access accounts, information or applications that are important to your organisation.
That’s why mobile phone theft protection should form part of a wider business security strategy.
Following the checklist: How to secure my mobile phone
The best time to protect your phone is before it’s stolen.
Both Android and Apple provide security features that can help you protect a missing device. Businesses can also introduce additional controls through Mobile Device Management.
For Mobifon business users
If you’re a Mobifon business customer and want to discuss mobile security, call us on 01530 569599 to discuss your requirements.
Mobifon can help businesses consider Mobile Device Management as part of a wider managed mobile solution.
For Android users
Google provides several theft protection features on supported Android devices.
To turn on Remote Lock:
- Open your device’s Settings app
- Tap Google
- Tap All services
- Under Personal and device safety, tap Theft protection
- Tap Remote Lock
- Turn Remote Lock on
Google says Remote Lock requires a screen lock, an active SIM, a verified phone number, Find Hub, and an internet connection.
Depending on your device, Android may also offer additional theft protection features, including Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock and Failed Authentication Lock.
It’s worth checking your phone now rather than waiting until something goes wrong.
For iPhone users
Apple provides Find My to help locate and protect a missing iPhone.
Before your phone is lost or stolen:
- Open Settings
- Tap your Apple Account
- Tap Find My
- Select Find My iPhone
- Turn on Find My iPhone
- Consider enabling Find My network
- Consider enabling Send Last Location
Apple also recommends Stolen Device Protection on supported iPhones. This provides additional security when someone has access to your iPhone and knows your passcode.
Setting up Find My before your phone is stolen is particularly important because it can help you locate, lock and protect the device afterwards.
What to do if my mobile phone is stolen
If your phone has been stolen, act quickly.
For Mobifon business users
If you’re a Mobifon business customer, call us on 01530 569599 as soon as possible.
Where a Mobile Device Management service has been formally agreed between your business and Mobifon, MDM can provide additional controls for managing company devices.
Depending on the solution and configuration, these can include device encryption, remote locking, security policies, application management and secure remote data removal.
For organisations with multiple mobile devices, this can provide a much more consistent approach to mobile security.
For Android consumers
If Remote Lock was enabled before your phone was stolen, you can use Google’s Remote Lock service.
- Go to https://www.google.com/android/find/lock
- Enter your phone number
- Complete the required security checks
- Request that your device is locked
Google says a remote lock request can take effect when an offline device reconnects to the internet.
You can also use Google Find Hub to locate, secure or erase a supported Android device.
For iPhone consumers
If your iPhone has been stolen, use Find My as soon as possible.
- Go to https://www.icloud.com/find
- Sign in with your Apple Account
- Select All Devices
- Select your stolen iPhone
- Choose Mark as Lost
- Follow the instructions
Lost Mode locks your iPhone and allows you to display contact information on the screen.
If you don’t believe you’ll recover the device, Apple also lets you erase it remotely. However, don’t remove the stolen iPhone from Find My after erasing it, as doing so can remove Activation Lock and make the device easier for someone else to reuse.
If Find My shows your phone at an unfamiliar location, don’t attempt to recover it yourself. Contact the police.
Contact your mobile network provider
Contact your network provider as quickly as possible.
Your provider can help you suspend the SIM and may be able to block the stolen handset.
You may also need to arrange getting a replacement SIM card.
A replacement SIM can allow you to keep your existing mobile number while preventing the stolen SIM from being used.
If the stolen phone was used for business, let your organisation’s IT or security team know immediately.
Change your passwords and protect your accounts
Your phone may have been connected to numerous online accounts.
After a theft, review the accounts that were accessible from your device.
Consider:
- Changing important passwords
- Checking your email account for unusual activity
- Reviewing banking and financial accounts
- Checking cloud storage
- Reviewing authentication apps and trusted devices
- Removing payment cards from your mobile wallet where appropriate
- Contacting your bank if you notice suspicious activity
- Reviewing your Apple or Google account security
Be particularly cautious about messages claiming that your stolen phone has been found.
Criminals may try to persuade you to provide passwords, verification codes or other sensitive information.
Never provide security codes simply because someone claims they have found your phone.
Report stolen phone to police online
After securing your phone, report the theft to the police.
For non-emergency incidents, you can normally report the crime through your local police force’s online reporting service or by calling 101.
If you’re in immediate danger or a crime is taking place, call 999.
When making a mobile phone theft report, you may need information such as:
- The make and model of your phone
- Your mobile number
- The IMEI number
- Where the theft happened
- When the theft happened
- What happened
- Information about the person responsible, if known
- Tracking information, if available
Keep your IMEI number somewhere safe before your phone is stolen. It can be useful when reporting the theft and speaking to your network provider.
If you can track your stolen phone, don’t put yourself at risk by trying to retrieve it.
Why phone theft protection matters for your business
A stolen company phone can create a much bigger problem than an employee losing their handset.
Business mobile phones often provide access to:
- Emails linking to internal systems
- CRM, finance and HR applications
- Files containing private or commercially sensitive data
- Password managers and authentication tools
- Cloud storage
- Customer information
- Internal communication platforms
A compromised device can contribute to mobile fraud, data exposure, account compromise and operational disruption.
Mobile Device Management and mobile security
Mobile Device Management is particularly useful when employees use smartphones to access company information outside the office.
Rather than relying entirely on individual employees to manage their own security settings, an MDM solution can allow an organisation to apply policies centrally.
This can help businesses establish a consistent approach to device security across the workforce.
For organisations handling sensitive customer information, financial information or commercially important data, that additional control can be valuable.
At Mobifon, we understand that business mobile communications need to work alongside wider operational and security requirements.
For more details about how to deal with the theft or loss of a mobile phone in the UK, Citizens Advice provides practical guidance covering what you should do next.
You can read the guidance here:
Citizens Advice: What to do if your mobile phone is lost or stolen
Need help protecting your business mobiles?
Mobile phone theft isn’t something any business wants to deal with.
But having the right security measures in place beforehand can make a significant difference.
If your business needs a secure, scalable Mobile Device Management solution alongside managed business mobile services, Mobifon can help.
Call 01530 569599 to discuss your requirements.
Mobifon works with businesses across the UK to deliver communication services designed around the needs of modern organisations.