Your Phone is Not “Your Precious” – But You Can Still Protect It Like a Pro

I remember when I first joined the smartphone craze with my iPhone 3—a device that felt revolutionary at the time. Released in 2008, it sold over a million units in its first weekend. I synced my iTunes, set up my email, added my contacts, and suddenly, I had everything I needed in my pocket. The ability to browse the web and watch YouTube on the go made it feel like the single most important thing I owned… My precious!

Fast forward 17 years, and my phone is even more than that. It holds countless memories, runs every aspect of my life, from finance apps to personal organisation, and has completely replaced my diary, Filofax (for the older generation!), alarm clock, and even my wallet.

But here’s the real question:
Am I willing to guard it with my life?
Absolutely bloody not!

Phone Theft is Rising—And Fast

In London alone, phone theft has surged by 150%, with one stolen every six minutes. Criminals have evolved from pickpocketing handbags to blatant snatch-and-run tactics—often on e-scooters and mopeds, or even timing their attacks as tube doors close, leaving commuters helpless.

The terrifying part? It’s not just about losing a phone—it’s about losing access to your entire digital life.

Yet, as much as that thought sends shivers down your spine, fighting back is not worth the risk. Three people were recently stabbed in London while trying to stop phone thieves. Don’t let that be you.

Read more: Three stabbed over phone thefts in London

Instead of risking your safety, here’s a better approach—one that ensures you stay protected, while also safeguarding your data, identity, and digital life.

Step 1: Back It Up – So Losing Your Phone isn’t a Disaster

This isn’t groundbreaking advice, but let’s be honest: Are you actually doing it properly?

✔️ Enable automatic cloud backup—so your photos, contacts, and important data are always safe.
✔️ Sync with your PC or an external drive regularly—especially for sensitive files.

I used to back up manually whenever I remembered (which wasn’t often). So, when I dropped my phone in the toilet, I wasn’t just flushing my device—I was flushing years of memories. Don’t make that mistake.

Step 2: Insure It – Make Theft a Mere Inconvenience

Having good device insurance means that if your phone gets stolen, you’ll have a new one in your hands in days, without spending a fortune.

✔️ Look for policies that cover theft AND unauthorised transactions, including eWallet payments—because that’s what criminals go for first.
✔️ A decent £100-a-year plan can save you £1,000+ in replacement costs.
✔️ Don’t want insurance? Buy a cheaper or refurbished phone and accept the financial risk.

These first two steps mean that your phone is no longer “your precious”—it’s just a replaceable gadget. But what about your data?

Step 3: The Post-Theft Lockout – Shut Them Down in Seconds

If your phone is snatched while unlocked, thieves will have access to everything—contacts, emails, banking apps, and payment methods. That’s a nightmare.

Here’s a game-changing solution:

Set up an emergency trigger that locks your phone via text message.

Imagine this: Within seconds of it being stolen, you borrow a phone, send a pre-set text to your number, and BOOM—your screen locks instantly, requiring Face ID, fingerprint, or a passcode.

Even better, some phones allow you to automatically trigger lock mode when thieves try to turn on Flight Mode—which they do to disable tracking.

Important: This feature isn’t available on every phone, so we’ve created a guide to help you set it up. Check it out here:

Step 4: Remote Wipe – Erase Everything in Under 5 Minutes

Once your phone is locked, your next priority is wiping it clean to prevent identity theft.

To do this as fast as possible, you’ll need a Remote-Wipe Buddy—someone you trust, like a partner or parent, who knows how to erase your phone remotely.

Here’s how:

1️⃣ Call your Remote-Wipe Buddy using another phone (have a signal like “ring twice, hang up, then call again” so they know it’s you).
2️⃣ They log in to iCloud or Google Find My Device and select Erase Device.

• For iPhones: iCloud Find My Device
• For Android: Google Find My Device

Pro Tip: Use a secret passphrase system for login details—something only you and your Remote-Wipe Buddy understand. Example: If your password is PonkieEatsTooMuch25#, you could store it under a coded email note like “WhyCatFrustratesMe25#”. It’s easy for you to remember but meaningless to anyone else.

Final Thought: Protect Yourself, Not Just Your Phone

By following these steps, your data stays secure, your phone is replaceable, and your safety is the top priority.

Losing a phone is frustrating—but it’s not worth risking your life over.

Instead of clinging to “your precious”, focus on what actually matters:
✅ Being smart about security
✅ Having a system in place
✅ Staying safe and one step ahead

If you implement these steps, you won’t just be protecting your phone—you’ll be protecting your identity, finances, and peace of mind.