What do thieves do with Stolen iPhones? Understanding iPhone Lost Mode

Ever wondered what happens to your iPhone after it’s stolen and how lost mode can protect your device?

Smartphone theft remains a serious problem worldwide, with iPhones being particularly attractive targets due to their high resale value and premium components. Understanding what happens after your iOS device is stolen can help you better protect yourself against theft and take appropriate action if you become a victim.

Here’s the problem:

When thieves steal an iPhone, they’re not just taking a device—they’re potentially accessing your personal information, financial details, and digital identity through your Apple account.

And that’s not all…

Modern thieves have developed sophisticated methods to bypass security measures like Face ID, Touch ID, and the device’s lock screen to extract value from stolen devices, even when they’re locked, in lost mode, or blacklisted.

iPhones and other Apple devices remain prime targets for thieves for several compelling reasons, especially when lost mode isn’t enabled.

These valuable devices are targeted because:

Think about it:

An iPhone that costs $1,000 new can still fetch hundreds of dollars used—or even more in parts—making them lucrative targets for opportunistic thieves who know how to bypass lost mode or recovery mode.

According to security experts, smartphone theft accounts for a significant percentage of street crime in major cities, with iPhones being particularly sought after due to their premium status and consistent design that makes them easily identifiable even in low power mode.

Once an iPhone is stolen, thieves typically follow one of several paths depending on their technical knowledge and the device’s security status, including whether lost mode has been enabled.

1. Immediate Resale of the Lost Device

The most common and straightforward approach is attempting to sell the device quickly before the owner can turn on lost mode.

This often involves:

Thieves often target tourists or visitors who will leave the area, reducing the chance of the device being tracked locally or the thief being identified through location sharing.

2. Parts Harvesting When Lost Mode is Enabled

When faced with a locked iPhone that can’t be easily reset because lost mode requires a device passcode, many thieves turn to dismantling the device for parts.

Valuable components include:

A single iPhone 13 Pro, for example, can yield over $300 in parts, even when the device itself is inaccessible due to security features like Activation Lock or when you turn on lost mode.

3. Data Exploitation Despite Lost Mode

Some sophisticated thieves are less interested in the device and more focused on the data it contains, trying to bypass lost mode protection.

They may attempt to:

This is why enabling proper security features like lost mode is critical—even if you lose the physical device, protecting your digital identity is far more important.

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While Apple’s security measures are robust, determined thieves have developed various methods to attempt to bypass these protections, including lost mode and other services.

Rather than attacking the device directly, some thieves use social engineering to circumvent lost mode and access your Apple account.

This may include:

These attacks target the human element rather than the technology, highlighting why awareness and enabling lost mode are critical parts of security for all applicable devices.

More technically sophisticated thieves may attempt various methods to access the device even with lost mode enabled:

The success of these methods varies greatly and often depends on the iOS version and device model. Apple regularly patches security vulnerabilities, making newer devices with updated software significantly more secure against those trying to click unlock.

Disclaimer: You can sell blacklisted iPhones as long as you’re the legal owner. For example, if you bought the iPhone from a store or a person and it’s not found or stolen, you can sell it. If you’re unsure, check with the store you choose, and they will guide you.

One common tactic is shipping stolen devices to countries where:

This international gray market for stolen devices is one reason why iPhone theft remains profitable despite improved security measures like lost mode and emergency SOS features.

When a stolen iPhone can’t be unlocked or sold whole because lost mode is enabled, thieves often turn to dismantling it for parts.

The most valuable components include:

This parts market creates sustained demand for stolen devices even when they can’t be activated due to lost mode, as repair shops may knowingly or unknowingly purchase these components from iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch devices.

Prevention Steps for Apple Devices

Protecting your iPhone starts with proactive security measures including lost mode:

If your device is stolen, act quickly with these steps including enabling lost mode:

Taking these steps quickly, especially to turn on lost mode, can minimize both financial loss and privacy risks by suspending payment cards.

While iPhone theft continues to be a problem, understanding what happens to stolen devices and how lost mode helps can help you better protect yourself. Thieves typically try to sell stolen iPhones quickly, harvest them for parts, or exploit the data they contain when lost mode isn’t enabled.

By implementing strong security measures including lost mode before a theft occurs and knowing exactly what to do if your device is stolen, you can minimize the impact of theft and reduce the chances of your personal information being compromised.

Remember, the physical device can be replaced, but your personal data and digital identity are far more valuable and harder to recover if compromised, which is why enabling lost mode is crucial for all Apple devices.