# How many smartphones have you ever had stolen? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 7, 2022, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-smartphones-have-you-ever-had-stolen/962432 "2022-04-07T01:55:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 9:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-smartphones-have-you-ever-had-stolen/962432/42 "2022-04-08T09:20:15Z")
For what it’s worth, most newer Kindles can be rooted and turned (more or less) into Fire tablets. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-smartphones-have-you-ever-had-stolen/962432/43 "2022-04-08T10:52:50Z")
I am on my second smart phone. The first one is now my granddaughter’s - after I purged it - for watching whatever videos my daughter permits. My current phone is password protected and my lock screen has my husband’s name and phone number so that if I lose it or if I’m found unconscious, there’s a point of contact. But the only time it’s out of my sight in public is when I tuck it in its pocket in my purse. So, none stolen. Have I now jinxed myself? ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-smartphones-have-you-ever-had-stolen/962432/44 "2022-04-08T11:48:32Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > I think the assumption is always that it was stolen and that it’s not worth looking for it. This is perhaps a deeper message about the state of our society. As for me, I’ve never had one lost or stolen in real life. However, it is the topic of many panicky dreams. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-smartphones-have-you-ever-had-stolen/962432/45 "2022-04-08T12:06:51Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > It’s not the data (photos, texts) on your phone that’s most concerning, but the access a thief would have to your online accounts if your phone is not locked. That’s a wide open doorway to identity theft that can turn out to be a nightmare. That has a lot to do with why I DON’T use much internet on my phone. For example, I have NEVER done any banking or accessed my bank accounts on my phone. I do not ever want to do that. I do not want to pay for anything with my phone. I do not want a payment app on my phone, or a credit card on my phone. Unfortunately, modern life keeps pushing to put more and more on these devices whether or not we want it. I mean, sure, two-factor authentication is great but what if I don’t want to use my phone to access my internet accounts? The assumption is now EVERYONE has a phone and EVERYONE wants to do EVERYTHING on it. It pisses me off that I have less and less choice about these things. And if you use your phone for two-factor authentication then if someone has your phone you’re screwed because then they can use it to two-factor all your stuff anyway. I do NOT want to use biometrics for two reasons. I have discovered that injury to the relevant body part (a cut on your finger, for example), significant weight loss/gain, or just having really dry skin can frack up the reader, locking you out of your stuff. Also, in the event I am incapacitated I want the person with my power-of-attorney to be able access my stuff to act on my behalf. The person does not at present have the required passwords and information but that is kept in a secure location to which they have access in the event of an emergency. That person does not, however, have either my fingerprints or my face. There are circumstances where I _want_ someone, a specific someone, to have access to my accounts. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-smartphones-have-you-ever-had-stolen/962432/46 "2022-04-08T12:11:44Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I do NOT want to use biometrics for two reasons. I have discovered that injury to the relevant body part (a cut on your finger, for example), significant weight loss/gain, or just having really dry skin can frack up the reader, locking you out of your stuff. I’m not sure if any of the phones are face-detect or thumbprint _only_. If the biometric scan doesn’t work for some reason (like you’re wearing a mask), it reverts to the PIN method of entering your password. It’s just a convenience thing for the user more than anything. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-smartphones-have-you-ever-had-stolen/962432/47 "2022-04-08T12:21:54Z")
> [@Omniscient](#): > > I bartended for a long time. We had literally dozens in the lost and found. Shockingly few people came looking for them or even bothered to call/text the phone to see if someone would return it. I think the assumption is always that it was stolen and that it’s not worth looking for it. Yep. The store I work at has a pile of lost phones. We’re thrilled if we can reunite one with its owner. A lot of people never come looking, though. And a bunch ring and ring but because they’re locked we can’t answer them to let folks know they can come pick them up. Would be nice if there was an option where the phone could be answered even if locked, even if you can’t initiate calls or anything else from it. One tip: if you _do_ come looking for your lost phone _bring a charging cord with you._ If the phone is powered down we may have no one of knowing whether or not it’s yours. If the phone has power, though, you can unlock it (which we’ll consider proof enough) or, if unlocked, we can usually verify it’s yours based on accessible content. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-smartphones-have-you-ever-had-stolen/962432/48 "2022-04-08T12:22:53Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > And an unlocked phone circumvents two factor verification if one way of verification is your phone number, as @Jophiel mentioned. What other option exists for two-factor _other_ than a phone number? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-smartphones-have-you-ever-had-stolen/962432/49 "2022-04-08T12:25:16Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > My current phone is password protected and my lock screen has my husband’s name and phone number so that if I lose it or if I’m found unconscious, there’s a point of contact. Ooo! That’s a GREAT idea! ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-smartphones-have-you-ever-had-stolen/962432/50 "2022-04-08T12:32:36Z")
None, but I lost my iPhone 7 a few years back. The 11 was already out, so it was several years old. I still have my 11 Pro Max, though, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I’d like another couple of years out of it or so before I update. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-smartphones-have-you-ever-had-stolen/962432/51 "2022-04-08T12:40:45Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Ooo! That’s a GREAT idea! Thanks, I thought so. It was that or a stick-on label. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-smartphones-have-you-ever-had-stolen/962432/52 "2022-04-08T13:21:29Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > For what it’s worth, most newer Kindles can be rooted and turned (more or less) into Fire tablets. It was a 5th generation, not even Paperwhite so, no. [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Amazon_Kindle5_en.jpg/340px-Amazon_Kindle5_en.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Amazon_Kindle5_en.jpg/340px-Amazon_Kindle5_en.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-smartphones-have-you-ever-had-stolen/962432/53 "2022-04-08T13:24:15Z")
Heh, okay. That generation can be rooted and turned into a Frisbee. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-smartphones-have-you-ever-had-stolen/962432/54 "2022-04-08T13:32:15Z")
Like I said, I’m sure she was disappointed. It wasn’t locked so she could read my stuff – a lot of s-f and history – but it was registered so she couldn’t load anything from Amazon onto it since it wouldn’t have been acquired by my account. My name and phone number were on it if she knew where to look and I’d have taken it back no questions asked, or even given her twenty bucks just to avoid the hassle of filling the replacement. Needless to say, I was never contacted. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-smartphones-have-you-ever-had-stolen/962432/55 "2022-04-08T13:47:24Z")
> [@F111lovemissile](#): > > Although he protested, i gave him a red lobster gift card. In that circumstance, I would protest too. 🤮 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-smartphones-have-you-ever-had-stolen/962432/56 "2022-04-08T14:10:25Z")
A physical security key/hardware token, authenticator apps, biometrics, or email. Depends on who you’re dealing with. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-smartphones-have-you-ever-had-stolen/962432/57 "2022-04-08T15:07:15Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > > [@Broomstick](#): > > > > I do NOT want to use biometrics for two reasons. I have discovered that injury to the relevant body part (a cut on your finger, for example), significant weight loss/gain, or just having really dry skin can frack up the reader, locking you out of your stuff. > > I’m not sure if any of the phones are face-detect or thumbprint _only_ . If the biometric scan doesn’t work for some reason (like you’re wearing a mask), it reverts to the PIN method of entering your password. It’s just a convenience thing for the user more than anything. Also, you can store prints for multiple fingers. By the point you lose too many fingers to unlock your phone, you have bigger problems. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-smartphones-have-you-ever-had-stolen/962432/58 "2022-04-08T15:23:00Z")
Flew (from innocent midwestern town) to San Francisco to see my kid. He said “I’ll take you to the best burrito joint. It’s only a four mile walk…” Halfway there, I pulled out my phone to check where we were on a map. Kid was shocked. “Dad, do NOT do that! Anybody sees your phone, they’ll grab it. It’s a couple hundred bucks for them on the street, no questions asked.” ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-smartphones-have-you-ever-had-stolen/962432/59 "2022-04-08T15:51:50Z")
Alright, who else misread the thread title as: “How many smartphones have you stolen?” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-smartphones-have-you-ever-had-stolen/962432/60 "2022-04-08T16:32:36Z")
_raises hand_ As to the OP – I lost one about a dozen years back in a stall. Never was able to locate it or track it. Otherwise, nothing stolen; my wife has never had hers stolen; neither my brother nor sister-in-law have had it stolen. Come to think of it, I don’t know anyone who has had their phone stolen. (This, of course, doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened to someone I know – I’m sure it has – I am just not aware of it.) My smart phone problems have more been of the accidentally-smashed-it-to-bits and recharging-port-has-gone-kaput variety. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2022, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-smartphones-have-you-ever-had-stolen/962432/61 "2022-04-08T16:52:32Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Kid was shocked. “Dad, do NOT do that! Anybody sees your phone, they’ll grab it. It’s a couple hundred bucks for them on the street, no questions asked.” This happened to a friend of mine when he was in London. He was looking at directions on his phone when someone on a bike rode past him and snatched the phone from his hands and sped away. Because of that happening to him I always try to be very aware of who is near me when I am using my phone on the street. I am shocked at how many women I see with giant smartphones sticking halfway out of their back pockets just walking around oblivious. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-smartphones-have-you-ever-had-stolen/962432.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-smartphones-have-you-ever-had-stolen/962432.md?page=4)