The Urban Epidemic Of Phone Snatching

If you live in a major city, like London or New York, say, you’ll know that phone snatching is endemic, and troubling not just because you’ve likely lost your phone forever, but because if the thief has snagged the phone when it’s unlocked, they may be able to access data such as banking apps, for instance.

Recent upgrades to Stolen Device Protection have limited thieves’ access, such as preventing Apple ID changes which would allow the thief to add themselves to your biometrics. And now Stolen Device Protection is on by default, rather than needing to be activated.

How Sensor Data Detects A Snatch-And-Grab

This new feature would be an improvement which uses the iPhone’s accelerometer and gyroscope to calculate that the sudden movement indicates a snatch-and-grab.

However, what’s not clear is whether the system will work on the iPhone only or if an Apple Watch is required.

“To further determine whether the iPhone may have been taken from its owner, the feature will also observe the distance from a paired Apple Watch,” 9to5Mac said.

Does that mean it only works with the watch? Or faster? That’ll become clear when the feature is released.

Once activated, the current security protections apply. “Additionally, once fully implemented and enabled, the feature will take into account the same rules that apply to Stolen Device Protection: whether the iPhone is connected to a familiar WiFi network, and whether it is at a familiar location, such as home or work,” the report went on.

There’s no such thing as perfect security. The New York Times recently reported how thieves who can’t wipe the stolen phone because an Apple ID is still connected, may take further action. They can access the emergency contact even if the phone is locked and in some cases have harassed or even threatened that contact if the ID isn’t removed.