mgcarley
Founder, Hayai Broadband
When my phone got stolen last May (53 weeks ago to the day, I think), I had to:
[*]Call Vodafone, report the SIM as stolen
[*]File an FIR, detailing the IMEI of the phone (just in case)
[*]Go to Vodafone store and get a new SIM for Rs99
[/list]
Since my phone started up with my website address, I thought I should post a note with a reward (I genuinely offered Rs 1 lakh for information leading to return or direct return) - just in case someone saw it and decided to visit, but no one did Oh well, their loss!
My new phone has at least 3 anti-theft features turned on:
[*]A custom written alarm (in Python), using the proximity sensor conveniently included with the phone - goes off within 2 seconds if the device is not unlocked and disables the off button and the phone itself becomes slightly less trivial to unlock once the alarm goes off... they'd have to remove the battery, by which time I'd be able to catch them because the alarm is quite loud, and I'm a complete prick when people wrong me.
[*]I also have PhoneLocator which updates the phones location by GPS every few minutes (got this idea from a guy who recovered his stolen iPhone by zeroing in on the GPS signal with a laptop and map... he caught the guy red handed at a bus stop. If it'd been me, I probably would have done more than just take the phone back).
[*]The phone also has a lock code which is activated if the SIM is changed, effectively bricking the phone. And updating the firmware or resetting to defaults with *#7370# doesn't get rid of it - I tried
[/list]
Basically the first alarm should be enough to cause the thief to drop/attempt to hide the phone... or run away. Very quickly.
---------- Post added at 01:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:53 AM ----------
Unfortunately, service providers in India don't brick the phone when you report the IMEI as stolen. They should, but they don't.
[*]Call Vodafone, report the SIM as stolen
[*]File an FIR, detailing the IMEI of the phone (just in case)
[*]Go to Vodafone store and get a new SIM for Rs99
[/list]
Since my phone started up with my website address, I thought I should post a note with a reward (I genuinely offered Rs 1 lakh for information leading to return or direct return) - just in case someone saw it and decided to visit, but no one did Oh well, their loss!
My new phone has at least 3 anti-theft features turned on:
[*]A custom written alarm (in Python), using the proximity sensor conveniently included with the phone - goes off within 2 seconds if the device is not unlocked and disables the off button and the phone itself becomes slightly less trivial to unlock once the alarm goes off... they'd have to remove the battery, by which time I'd be able to catch them because the alarm is quite loud, and I'm a complete prick when people wrong me.
[*]I also have PhoneLocator which updates the phones location by GPS every few minutes (got this idea from a guy who recovered his stolen iPhone by zeroing in on the GPS signal with a laptop and map... he caught the guy red handed at a bus stop. If it'd been me, I probably would have done more than just take the phone back).
[*]The phone also has a lock code which is activated if the SIM is changed, effectively bricking the phone. And updating the firmware or resetting to defaults with *#7370# doesn't get rid of it - I tried
[/list]
Basically the first alarm should be enough to cause the thief to drop/attempt to hide the phone... or run away. Very quickly.
---------- Post added at 01:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:53 AM ----------
Unfortunately, service providers in India don't brick the phone when you report the IMEI as stolen. They should, but they don't.