iPhone 6 Stolen

BBMcQ

Hi all,

My wife's iPhone 6 was stolen out of her hands in the IFSC yesterday at 5.30pm. Phone was turned off straight away so couldn't use Find my iPhone. I got onto O2 straight away and the Gardai. If i left work 2 minutes earlier it wouldn't have happened.

Just be on the look out for a White iPhone 6 Gold 16gb if it goes up on Adverts.ie or Donedeal or you get offered a cheap one like this. Can the chinese phone shops unlock these if the IMEI is blocked etc? It has a Spigen gold cover on the iPhone FYI.

Thanks and watch yourselves in town with your phones out.

Zcott

Hate to hear of this happening, but the good news is that the morons who stole it won't ne able to use it because of iOS' Activation Lock. Have a read:

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht5818

mad muffin

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Apple should implement a need to use the passcode (or Touch ID) if you want to turn off the phone from the lock screen.

Find my iPhone is useless if your phone gets stolen and then turned off. The same thing happened to my wife (older iPhone) and the phone was turned off staight away. Probably sold for parts. Couldn't even remote wipe it.

Chance The Fapper

OP, keep an eye on adverts. Sorry to hear it got robbed.

punisher5112

Best never to have these expensive phones out in built up busy areas as it's so easy these same guys are at it all the time.

I thought this was made known in that area and all were warned by security.

If talking on phone always use handsfree when in those busy areas and if holding phone use your whole hand and fingers to clasp it not just your thumb and 2 fingers.

Lucas Castroman

Women are particularly oblivious to the world around them. I wonder would the guards even bother tracing a phone if it was left on.

mad muffin

Lucas Castroman wrote: »

Women are particularly oblivious to the world around them. I wonder would the guards even bother tracing a phone if it was left on.

I'm sure if there was one nearby they would. It's their job after all.

punisher5112

Was theguy on a bike op?

This is their prefered method.

Sad Professor

mad muffin wrote: »

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Apple should implement a need to use the passcode (or Touch ID) if you want to turn off the phone from the lock screen.

What would stop a thief from simply pulling the SIM card and disabling the 3G connection?

As a means for retrieving a stolen iPhone, Find My iPhone’s usefulness is limited to say the least. The Garda aren’t in the habit of breaking down doors because some highly inaccurate tracking system says your iPhone is there. And a thief with a trackable device that they can’t turn off or hack isn’t going to bring it back safe and sound to its owner or leave it somewhere undamaged for them to find. They’ll throw it in the Liffey or smash it.

Mostly I just want to know that my personal data is safe and that the thief won’t be able to profit from the theft. Activation Lock is a good step in this direction, but I’d prefer a firmware password like the Mac has.

murpho999

mad muffin wrote: »

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Apple should implement a need to use the passcode (or Touch ID) if you want to turn off the phone from the lock screen.

Find my iPhone is useless if your phone gets stolen and then turned off. The same thing happened to my wife (older iPhone) and the phone was turned off staight away. Probably sold for parts. Couldn't even remote wipe it.

Don't get this.

If a phone is being stolen for parts then why would not switching the phone off not make a difference?
Easy on older models with the pentalobe screwdriver.

I would hate to have to use touch id to switch off a device.

They probably know how to open the phone and remove the battery as well.

Even with find my iPhone and you see your phone located in someone's house. What do you do? Would the Gardai go in?

Sadly, people just have to be very careful when in any city (Not just Dublin) with an expensive device like an iPhone.

Sympathy for the OP and his wife but at the end of the day it's just a phone and be thankful she wasn't injured during the theft.

BBMcQ

punisher5112 wrote: »

Was theguy on a bike op?

This is their prefered method.

Yeah a push bike, black hood up. Was in quite a crowded plaza and sickens me nobody stopped him or even comforted her.

BBMcQ

murpho999 wrote: »

Sympathy for the OP and his wife but at the end of the day it's just a phone and be thankful she wasn't injured during the theft.

Thanks, this was my gut reaction too and still is the overriding feeling. Apparently there is a known perpetrator back on the streets so I'm more concerned now with prevention in the future. This sort of situation could easy turn violent.

punisher5112

I would well believe it.

People are afraid of their shadows and I have no hesitation in helping out but most won't.

He could have a blade or screw driver you just don't know and so many others are in their own world just like your wife would have been I'm afraid.

Let this be a lesson to her I know easier said then done but it would not hard to catch these guys as hey are at it all the time they just love it there vecause so many suits and lovely spanking new phones.

Does she work there? and if yes she should let everyone know even email around and make a statement to the fact they are all targets.

As I said if she is out and needs to use phone try using ear piece when making calls and if texting or on net keep phone close using both hands.

If using phone cradle it so you have your whole hand covering.

Stings should be set up with these phones but plastic dummy ones I would love a go and catch the scum.

FourFourRED

mad muffin wrote: »

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Apple should implement a need to use the passcode (or Touch ID) if you want to turn off the phone from the lock screen.

Find my iPhone is useless if your phone gets stolen and then turned off. The same thing happened to my wife (older iPhone) and the phone was turned off staight away. Probably sold for parts. Couldn't even remote wipe it.

Removing the sim card would do pretty much the same thing as turning it off. No data connection then no FMIP.

DubDJ

You can take a little bit of good from it knowing that the phone is pretty useless to him anyway. With the IMEI blocked and Apples Activation lock its paperweight for him. Probably only useful to somebody for parts, hope your wife had insurance and can get a replacement. Terrible that nobody around offered any help.

biko

Unfortunately it's a common method of phone thefts in Dublin.

nightster1

Much sympathy for the OP's wife, but would you hold €700 up to your ear in a public place?

Chance The Fapper

nightster1 wrote: »

Much sympathy for the OP's wife, but would you hold €700 up to your ear in a public place?

Clearly you don't have any sympathy. You should be able to use your phone in public without fear of being robbed. The majority of people do.

c_man

nightster1 wrote: »

Much sympathy for the OP's wife, but would you hold €700 up to your ear in a public place?

Well, wouldn't be much of a phone to you if you were scared to do that

Type 17

A bit late for the OP's wife, but a tip I always use when making a call in an area where thefts might occur is to stand with your back to a wall - you can easily see anyone coming from the front or sides, and no one can come up from behind you.

FourFourRED

nightster1 wrote: »

Much sympathy for the OP's wife, but would you hold €700 up to your ear in a public place?

Ridiculous statement. Are we supposed to not make phone calls until we get home then?

nightster1

FourFourFM wrote: »

Ridiculous statement. Are we supposed to not make phone calls until we get home then?

I'd step off the street or mall to use my phone, less chance of having it stolen

punisher5112

As I said if making a call use handsfree ear piece makes it that much harder.

JDxtra

The IFSC is notorious for this. I worked there a few years back and security staff from our company were always warning staff to be careful.