If your phone is stolen in the UK, call 999 if you were threatened or hurt or the thief is still nearby. Otherwise, use another device to lock it with Lost Mode (iPhone) or Find Hub (Android), ask your network to block the SIM and the IMEI, report the theft online or on 101 to get a crime reference number, then change key passwords and tell your bank.
Updated 30 September 2026 · Sources: Metropolitan Police, Apple Support, Google Android Help, Report Fraud, Immobilise, askthe.police.uk
If you have been hurt, feel unsafe or it has only just happened, call 999 from a friend’s phone, a shop or any phone nearby. Do not chase the thief or try to get the phone back yourself.
Your first three priorities
What should I do in the first hour?
Work through these steps in order, using a laptop, a tablet or a friend’s phone. The first three stop the thief using your phone or your accounts; the rest protect your money and help you get a replacement.
1. Get safe first
2. Lock it remotely
3. Call your network
4. Report it to the police
5. Protect your money
6. Claim and replace
Should I report a stolen phone to the police?
Yes. Report it online through your local police force or call 101; call 999 only if you were threatened or hurt, or it has just happened. You will get a crime reference number, which insurers and networks usually ask for. Include the IMEI, the make and model and any tracked location. See 999 or 101: how to report a crime.
How do I lock a stolen iPhone?
Sign in at icloud.com/find or use the Find My app on another Apple device, pick the iPhone and mark it as lost. Apple says Lost Mode locks the phone with your passcode and suspends Apple Pay cards. Then change your Apple Account password. Apple will never contact you to say your phone has been found, so treat such messages as scams.
How do I lock a stolen Android phone?
Go to android.com/find, sign in with the Google Account on the phone and choose to secure the device. Google’s Find Hub can ring, lock or erase the phone if it is switched on, signed in, connected to the internet and has Find Hub turned on. Then change your Google password and review signed-in devices.
Should I try to get my phone back if I can see where it is?
No. Give the location to the police rather than going there yourself. Phones are often passed quickly to other people, and confronting them can put you in danger. Keep screenshots of the map with the time, and add them to your police report. Our guide to what to do if you think you’re being followed covers staying safe afterwards.
What if money has been taken from my accounts?
Call your bank straight away using the number on your card or its official website. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, report fraud to Report Fraud (the service that replaced Action Fraud) online or on 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, report fraud to Police Scotland on 101. Give them your police crime reference number.
Who to contact after a phone theft
Red: do it now · Amber: same day · Green: when it applies.
How can I make a future theft less damaging?
- Write down your IMEI now (dial *#06#) and keep it somewhere other than your phone.
- Register your phone on Immobilise, the free national property register that police forces use.
- Turn on Stolen Device Protection (iPhone) or Theft Detection Lock (Android). Our phone snatching guide explains how.
- Make sure a trusted person can see your location: see how to share your live location.
Myths vs facts
- Myth: “There’s no point reporting it.” Fact: Networks and insurers usually need a crime reference number, and your report adds to the data police use to target hotspots.
- Myth: “Erase it straight away.” Fact: Apple advises trying everything else first, because erasing can’t be undone. Lock it first.
- Myth: “A text saying my phone was found is good news.” Fact: Apple says it will never contact you to say your phone has been found. Such messages are often phishing for your passcode.
Frequently asked questions
If you think it was stolen, report it as a theft: online or on 101, or 999 if it has just happened or you were threatened. Police no longer handle most general lost property, so for a phone you simply lost, tell your network, note the IMEI and register the loss on Immobilise, which police forces can search.
Check the phone’s box, your purchase receipt or contract, or your network account. On iPhone, the serial number also appears in your Apple Account device list. Your network may be able to look it up from your number.
Sources
- Metropolitan Police: protect your phone (if your phone is stolen)
- Apple Support: if your iPhone or iPad is lost or stolen
- Google Android Help: find, secure or erase a lost Android device
- Report Fraud: service goes live
- Essex Police: protect your property with Immobilise
- Ask the Police: reporting a lost mobile phone
- West Yorkshire Police: lost property (Immobilise and Report My Loss)
General information, not legal advice. Steps may differ by phone model and network. In an emergency, always call 999.
Keep reading
Keep your trusted circle in the loop
Safety App UK shares your live location with people you trust, sends Safe Zone arrival and leave alerts, and lets you trigger an SOS by button or shake that sends your live location and live video. Its live safety map, built from police data and community reports, helps you avoid theft hotspots. It does not call the emergency services. Free for 7 days, then £2.99 a month. For ages 16+.