Mobile phone stolen: what to do and who pays?
Having your mobile phone stolen can be stressful. Comparis explains how best to respond, and which insurance covers phone theft.
22.05.2024
iStock/K-Kwanchai
1. My mobile phone has been stolen – what should I do?
Contact your mobile operator
Contact your mobile provider immediately and have them lock your SIM card. You can do this either on your provider’s online portal or via their helpline. If you do not lock your SIM, you are liable for any costs incurred after the theft.
Do you have credit card information stored on your mobile phone? Then you should report the theft to your bank and block your credit card.
Report the theft to the police
Contact the police as soon as possible. You can do this:
By telephone.
Via an online form.
At your local police station.
File a theft report. You’ll need a police report when you notify your insurer of the theft.
For the theft report, you need the serial number of your device, also known as the IMEI number. This is how you identify your mobile phone as yours. You can find the IMEI number on the packaging or in the sales contract. You can find it by dialling *#06# on your phone.
In the event of mobile theft or loss, you may be able to locate your smartphone. To do this, you should switch on the corresponding function in advance:
iPhone: turn on the “Find My” function in your iPhone settings. To do this, tap on your name and then on “Find My”. You can then locate it via the iCloud website.
Make sure you’re signed into a Google account on your smartphone.
Go to location management.
Activate “Find my device” in your settings.
You can then locate your mobile phone via this Google page.
Normally, you can also lock your smartphone using the search function. This protects your phone from misuse.
Report the loss to your insurer
Do you have mobile phone insurance or home contents insurance that will cover the loss? Report the theft to your insurer as soon as possible.
2. Mobile phone stolen: which insurance provides cover?
Mobile phone theft can be insured by:
Your home contents insurance
Mobile phone insurance
When does home contents insurance cover mobile phone theft?
In home contents insurance, a distinction is made between theft inside and outside the home.
Mobile phone theft at home is already included in basic home contents insurance cover.
The simple theft away from home add-on also insures theft away from home.
How much will my insurance cover?
In home contents insurance, your possessions are generally insured at their new value. The excess or deductible is usually between 200 and 500 francs. In the event of theft, the sum insured is partially limited.
Compare premiums
The cost of the annual premium for home contents insurance varies depending on your living situation, the sum insured, excess/deductible and the insurer. It’s always worth comparing.
When does mobile phone insurance cover phone theft?
The provisions on cover and deductibles vary. Therefore, before signing a contract, check whether your device is insured not only in case of damage, but also in case of theft or loss.
Depending on the contract, it is also possible to hand over a replacement device instead of paying out the replacement value.
3. How can I best protect myself against mobile phone theft?
Secure your phone
The SIM card pin only protects your phone when you restart it, so lock your mobile phone using a password, pattern, facial recognition or fingerprint.
Don’t keep passwords on your mobile phone or SIM card. Thieves are then unable to use your phone and have no access to your data.
Be vigilant and careful
Here are some tips to help you reduce the risk of theft.
Carry your smartphone in an inner pocket that you can fasten, not in an outer pocket.
When you are in large crowds, make sure to close your bag and carry it on your front.
Don’t leave your phone visible in your car.
Make backups
Back up your data or store it in the cloud.
This article was first published on 15.06.2018
