My phone or laptop was stolen — what do I do in the first hour?
First hour: lock and locate from another device (Find My / Find My Device), then log out of everything and change the passwords of email and banking. Report to Police — 101 / report online (999 in an emergency) (101) with the IMEI or serial number — the report number is what the insurer and the phone company need. Call Your bank — card and payment line if banking apps or cards were on the device. Ofcom / Communications Ombudsman / CISAS (0300 123 3333) blocks the SIM and, with the report, the IMEI so the phone cannot be used on the network.
🗣️ What to say
"My [phone/laptop], [brand, model, IMEI/serial], was stolen on [date] at [place]. I have locked it remotely. I want to file a report and get a case number for my insurer and my provider."
🪜 Step by step
- Lock and locateMark as lost, show a contact number on the screen, erase if it holds banking or work data. Do not go and confront whoever has it.
- Passwords from another deviceEmail first (it resets everything else), then banking, then the app-store account. Turn on two-factor authentication where it was off.
- Bank and payment appsRemove the device from the app, block cards stored in the wallet.
- Report to Police — 101 / report online (999 in an emergency)Online. Include IMEI (on the box, the receipt or your provider's account).
- SIM and IMEI: Ofcom / Communications Ombudsman / CISASBlock the SIM so nobody runs up charges or receives your verification codes.
📇 All contacts
❓ Frequently asked
Where do I find the IMEI?
On the original box, the purchase invoice, in your provider's account, or in the device's cloud account under device details.
Will insurance pay?
Contents or device insurance usually covers theft with a police report; check the excess and the deadline for claiming (often days).
The thief is asking for the passcode by text
That is phishing to unlock the phone. Do not answer, do not click. Keep the message for the report.
📎 Sources
- Police — 101 / report online (999 in an emergency) →
- Ofcom / Communications Ombudsman / CISAS →
- Victim Support — 0808 168 9111 →
🔎 Common searches
Recognise your own search? The answer above covers all of these.
- “phone stolen what to do the UK”
- “report stolen laptop police the UK”
- “block imei stolen phone”
- “stolen phone banking app”
- “find my phone stolen locked”
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