Back in March, we heard rumors that Apple could add an important anti-theft feature to iPhones: the ability for iOS to lock everything in case your phone is taken from your hands. While I was hoping that such a feature could launch with iOS 27, that didn’t happen – but it doesn’t mean that anti-snatch protection is dead in the water.
Code discovered in the newly released iOS 27.2 beta reveals that Apple may still be working on this feature — as well as what signals might trigger it in the real world.
Google launched something similar last year, known as Theft Detection Lock, and I’m glad to see that Apple is still moving forward with its own version. Considering how much we have on our phones, and how easy they are to steal, there is no such thing as too much protection from thieves and other criminals.
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How Apple’s anti-snatching feature works
Android’s Theft Detection Lock works by detecting sudden changes in your device, using the internal sensors. So if it notices that your phone is suddenly jerking in a direction and moving away at a speed, chances are that someone has snatched your phone and started running with it.
We assumed that the Apple version works in a similar way, but the revealed code offers some detail about how iOS registers possible thefts.
Code snippets seen by 9to5Mac show that depth detection is known internally as “AutoLock,” though there’s no guarantee that Apple will actually use that name for the public launch. The code also suggests that AutoLock will rely on five key signals to determine whether or not a phone has been stolen.
The first trigger is the presence of a “sharp acceleration” that is “consistent with a phone being ripped off.” Or, in other words, the internal sensors detect your phone moving in a way that is not consistent with typical use. Connectivity to the Apple Watch is also considered, including a paired watch that is unavailable for an extended period of time, and general loss of connectivity with that watch. Probably if that loss of contact is very sudden, then the AutoLock feature will realize that something is up.
The code also refers to being disconnected from the grid for extended periods. This would be consistent with thieves switching a phone to airplane mode in an attempt to evade Find My Device – either to track the phone or to unlock it remotely.
Finally, it is said that AutoLock could engage when a device has been unlocked over a specific time interval. This suggests that there may be circumstances where AutoLock may engage after being snapped, rather than during the process – as the Android version of the feature does.
The code also refers to security measures designed to prevent false positives, including location-based systems that prevent AutoLock from engaging in familiar places such as home or work – similar to how Apple’s Stolen Device Protection works. Other security measures include a veto system in which certain functions can override a request to AutoLock, biometric authentication, and a “backoff mechanism” that temporarily prevents automatic locking after repeated AutoLock events.
Of course, this feature is still a work in progress, and that means things can (and probably will) change between now and the official release. So don’t expect the final feature to arrive in this exact form, if that day could actually be.
Why is it important to have
I doubt there is anyone reading this who hasn’t heard of phone snatching, and many of you may have experienced it first hand. It has become quite a problem, especially in big cities and places with lax enforcement of rules regarding ebikes and mopeds.
It certainly doesn’t help that we use our phones so much, and some people tend to wander out with their phones, unaware that they are putting their device at risk. The last time my wife and I both went to London, I had to repeatedly tell her to put her phone away because she has a terrible habit of absentmindedly walking around with her phone by her side. It’s a problem made worse by the fact that it’s so hard to find women’s clothing with phone-friendly pockets.
Really, we should know to keep our phones more secure. Not only are they expensive devices, the amount of data we keep in them is probably worth more than the hardware itself. Banking apps, social media, personal photos and videos, the list is endless. The last thing you need is for someone to crack your phone and gain access to all that data simply because your phone was unlocked at the wrong moment.
Obviously, staying alert, and making sure your phone isn’t exposed unnecessarily, will always be the best way to avoid phone calls. But it’s foolish to assume you’ll stay safe 100% of the time, and there will be points where you need to use your phone and your guard is down just enough for an opportunistic thief to swoop in and grab it out of your hands.
Having a system that locks your phone means it’s a little harder for a thief to access your data, or try to wipe the phone and sell it for a profit. Crucially, it gives you a little more time to find a way to get into Find My Device and unlock the device – which significantly reduces its value to potential thieves.
AutoLock wouldn’t be the only system that helps protect your data. Stolen Device Protection has measures to prevent potential thieves from accessing key areas of your device – including Find My Settings, your Apple account and factory reset. Most importantly, it works even if the thief knows your PIN because it relies on biometric security. Apple also forces your iPhone to Reboot after 72 hours of inactivitywhich encrypts your device and makes it even more difficult for thieves to try to break in.
Replacing a phone sucks, especially if it’s not covered by AppleCare+ or another form of insurance. But the cost of a new phone pales in comparison to the cost of losing control of your accounts and data.
Bottom line
It’s important to keep tabs on your phone, no matter where you are or how safe you feel at the moment. Constant vigilance is a good idea in theory, but it is not realistically possible. For that reason, it’s great that phone companies are continually adding features to keep your devices safe and lock everything in case your phone is stolen.
I’m primarily an Android user, and I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve looked at my phone and been met with a notification telling me that the screen is automatically locked because it thought someone was stealing it. Some may find this slightly irritating, but not me. Considering how easy it is to unlock a smartphone with biometrics (be it a fingerprint or Face ID), I’d rather the software be a little more careful and ask me to unlock my phone again than face the alternative.
And the sooner Apple implements this feature on iPhones, the better.
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