In my life, I’ve misplaced my wallet twice, and on both occasions, I was fortunate enough to be helped by good Samaritans, both of whom left all the cash intact.
However, when my road bike was stolen from my front yard a few years ago, I ran down the street, scared an innocent kid, drove through areas of ill repute describing it to no avail, called the police, and visited yard sales and pawn shops for several days. Eventually, I came to the grim realization that it was gone, and I was 99.999999% sure I would never see it again.
So, when a good friend emailed me (notice he didn’t call) to vent some angst over losing his cell phone, I almost advised him to just accept it. But I was haunted by the fact that this was a piece of technology, and my admiration for the free market’s encouragement of innovation motivated me to help.
By the time I got back to him with the helpful information that follows, his situation was already handled, and a new phone was speeding toward his house in the express lane.
“Screws fall out all the time. The world’s an imperfect place.” – John Bender, The Breakfast Club
Storage
Start by thinking about how you carry your device. Many people keep them loose in a pocket or purse, or use a holster attached to their belts. This is fine, of course, if you develop the habit of checking that it’s still there when you get up from a place, which can reduce your odds of losing it.
I can tell when my Samsung Galaxy is in my front right jeans pocket, and also when it’s not, without even using my hands. Ladies have more creative options, like stashing them in their bras. I knew a woman who kept her small phone—back when small phones were all the rage—on a lanyard around her neck. She never lost her phone.
Consider your comfort, ease of access, the likelihood of dropping it, and the possibility of loss, theft, or misplacement when choosing how to store your phone. For instance, in New York City, it’s never a good idea to keep your wallet in your back pocket—it’s too easy to lift.
Also, think about how you store your phone while commuting. Phones often get left in unattended cars, which might not be a huge problem if they aren’t in plain view.
Prevention
If you’re prepared for something, it can’t, by definition, be called a catastrophe. That means filling your pantry with canned food, bottled water, and batteries, donating blood, and preparing your smartphone or device for potential loss or theft.
Fortunately, there are now many ways to not only prepare for the loss of your device but also to prevent it. The old “If found, please return to…” stickers on luggage and dollar bills now seem outdated compared to the options available for your cell phone!
Locks
Everyone should lock their phones to prevent unauthorized access and reduce the risk of accidental calls. Seriously, unintentional calls made while shifting in your car seat are the source of many headaches and hours of explanation!
Almost all phones now allow you to set up a password or PIN, and it’s easy to do. You can use a code, PIN, or a pattern you draw with your finger. If your phone is lost or stolen, it will be accessible only if the thief can crack the code.
Insurance
When you bought your phone, you were probably offered an insurance plan for an additional monthly fee. Fees can range from very low to over $10 per month, but they might be worth considering, especially with a more expensive device.
Keep in mind that these plans are designed to increase the profits of carriers, so make sure you understand the terms. If you have a new phone and a lot of travel planned, the policy might make sense.
However, I wouldn’t recommend paying for insurance as you near your contract renewal period, because your carrier will likely offer you a cheap or free replacement phone to encourage your loyalty at that time.
If you have insurance, you can file a claim to replace a lost or stolen phone.
Blacklist
Many cell phone carriers work together to maintain a blacklist of stolen phones. Dealers are supposed to check this list before unlocking a used phone for service. Be cautious when buying a second-hand phone from sites like eBay or Craigslist.
Backup
Simple backup options are available using your computer, a USB drive, or an online cloud service.
Services like Mozy and Mobyko, among many others, offer cloud backups so you can safely save and restore your files if necessary. If you’re already a PC or Mac subscriber, their mobile app may be included. Soocial provides an online backup service for mobile phone contacts on platforms like Blackberry, iPhone, Windows Mobile, and Android.
Before spending money unnecessarily, check with your provider. For example, Sprint Mobile Sync can back up your contacts online and offer step-by-step instructions.
Even Walmart has joined the backup game, offering their free Walmart Wireless Mobile Backup with 2 GB of free storage, regardless of carrier. By using a third-party service instead of your current carrier, you might find it easier to download your files if you ever switch services.
The Walmart service is wireless and works over your mobile network, making it an easy-to-use solution.
Contact
If you lose or misplace your phone, the first instinct is usually to call it. While the number of phones saved by this simple method is unknown, it’s worth trying—especially when dealing with honest people who return them. If your phone was on silent or vibrate, you’ll be glad you installed a remote alarm, available as a free or paid app.
Notify
Once you’re fairly certain your phone is lost, you’ll want to notify your carrier or service provider to suspend or disconnect your service.
Services & Apps
Services like Lookout and Norton for Android devices, as well as Apple’s Find My iPhone app, allow you to back up:
- Call history
- Contacts
- Emails
- Photos
- Videos
You can also remotely lock and erase your device if it’s stolen or lost. Lookout lets you display a custom message or set off an alarm on your lost or stolen device to increase the odds of getting it back. Lookout and other free and paid apps are available on the Android/Google Play Store.
In fact, searching for “theft” in your app store will bring up a list of free and paid apps for your device. Be sure to read about them and check the reviews.
With these apps, which are continually being improved, you can:
- Control the device remotely via text messages
- Locate the device using GPS, even obtaining the residential address
- Set off an alarm
- Erase all personal information from the device
- Lock the device
- Disable the device
- Record chip-change information
- Even take a picture of the thief!
The cell phone industry is constantly evolving to not only suspend service but also disable your lost or stolen device entirely. With “remote wipe,” you can delete all information once it’s lost. Some carriers offer this service for free, while others charge a fee.
Technology advances at an incredible pace. There are even designer alarms you can set off, such as a Halloween-themed angry pumpkin face. Now they’re just showing off!
Replace
Finally, if you didn’t recover your phone, you’ll need a replacement. Most people need one quickly. While the idea of going through the process of arranging a replacement phone makes many people cringe, services are improving. The friend I mentioned was pleasantly surprised by his carrier’s response (paraphrased):
“It was a very bizarre conversation. They were nice and polite! They waived the hundreds of dollars in early upgrade fees, showed me a better plan with a lower rate, upgraded my wife’s phone for free, and it will be here in two days!”
It seems like carriers are now better prepared to avoid catastrophes on their end, too.
