Have you got an Android phone? Do this now! Enable Theft Protection!
There is a massive increase in thieves snatching phones right out of pedestrians' hands; you should enable this new theft detection feature on your Android device! Google is introducing theft detection to all modern Android phones. If someone snatches your phone from your hands, the phone's sensors can detect this and automatically lock your phone, protecting your data on the device and access to your apps. You should enable this feature as soon as you can!
Thieves need your phone unlocked when they grab it, as the value is held here. An unlocked phone allows them to access your information and apps. They can rifle through your contacts, social apps, banking apps, crypto wallets, etc. If the phone is locked, it is almost worthless.
To see if your phone has received theft detection and to enable it, navigate to your settings:
Settings app > Google > All services tab > Personal & device safety > Theft Protection.
Once there, enable Theft Detection Lock, Offline Device Lock and Remote Lock.
Your phone will be protected and automatically locked if you're unfortunate enough to be targeted by these snatch-and-grab thieves.
Got an iPhone?
While iPhones don’t have real-time theft detection, they offer stolen device protection. This feature will not lock the device when snatched but forces biometric authentication if the thief tries to make certain changes. You can set this up in advance by going to your device's Settings > Face ID & Passcode > Stolen Device Protection.
