Apple May Bring Android-Style Theft Detection to iPhones
Apple is testing an anti-snatching feature for iPhones that locks devices using motion signals and checks for familiar locations, mirroring a recent Android security update. The feature aims to combat rising phone thefts, particularly in cities like London, where mobile phone thefts reached 117,000 in 2024, a 29.1% increase from 2022.
Apple is reportedly developing an iPhone anti-snatching feature designed to lock stolen devices automatically. The system uses motion signals, such as sudden changes in speed or accelerometer data, to detect theft attempts, particularly from thieves using electric bikes or mopeds. Once locked, the device remains secured while Apple’s security system monitors its distance from a paired Apple Watch or other Apple devices, as well as familiar Wi-Fi connections or locations. The feature builds on Apple’s existing Stolen Device Protection and follows Google’s recent Android theft-detection update. Thieves often target unlocked iPhones, accessing apps, sending phishing scams, or extracting personal data for resale. Many stolen devices end up in China, where they’re disassembled or repurposed. Phone thefts have surged in city centers, with London seeing a 29.1% rise in mobile phone thefts between 2022 and 2024, totaling 117,000 incidents. Police and local authorities have intensified efforts to combat thefts in tourist-heavy areas. This anti-snatching feature is part of Apple’s broader security upgrades for 2026, alongside new privacy-focused Siri updates, including an auto-deleting chats function. The company may announce further details at its upcoming WWDC event, though user control over chat retention remains unclear. The theft-detection system could significantly reduce iPhone vulnerabilities, particularly in high-risk urban environments where opportunistic thefts are common.
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