Millions of people in the UK are unknowingly making it easier for criminals to access their bank accounts and personal information. A recent study has found that 11.6 million individuals have not taken any steps to protect themselves, despite a growing number of theft incidents and increased awareness of the risks involved.

According to research conducted by Uswitch, more than one in five adults (21%) are leaving their mobile devices completely unprotected. This is particularly concerning given the sharp rise in phone thefts. Official statistics show that approximately 2.6 million theft incidents were recorded across the UK last year. Mobile phone theft, in particular, has seen a significant increase, with 272,000 reported cases between March 2024 and March 2025—a nearly 16% rise compared to the previous year.

Despite the fact that 85% of Brits claim they take precautions when out and about, many are still failing to implement basic digital security measures. Among those who are aware of available safety features, only 34% use tracking tools such as Find My Device, while just 8% have enabled remote lock or wipe functions. These features could prevent criminals from accessing banking apps and personal emails if a device is stolen.

The Impact of Phone Theft

The scale of the issue is alarming. One in seven adults (15%) has been a victim of phone theft in the past two years—equivalent to one theft every 7.6 seconds. Younger people are disproportionately affected, with 32% of those under 35 and 31% of Londoners experiencing theft. Public transport (27%) and outdoor public spaces (24%) are the most common locations where phones are stolen.

The financial consequences can be devastating. On average, victims lose £484, and over a third (37%) suffer losses exceeding £600. Alex, a 33-year-old from Islington, shared his experience of having his phone stolen while waiting for a bus near Waterloo after an evening out. He described how a man asked him to scan a QR code, which led to another individual stealing his phone. Within an hour, his debit and credit cards were emptied, and criminals accessed his emails, deleting transaction confirmation messages to avoid detection.

Alex now has phone insurance and is much more aware of the remote lock and wipe features available on his device. However, he admitted that before the theft, he was unaware of the Lost Mode feature, which could have helped secure his data more quickly.

Lack of Action After Theft

The study also highlighted a lack of action following thefts. Among those affected, only 31% contacted their network provider to block their SIM card, 25% reported the incident to the police or notified their bank, and just 22% remotely locked or wiped their device.

People’s main concerns include:

• Criminals gaining access to banking apps (42%)
• Losing irreplaceable photographs (35%)
• The cost of replacing their handset (32%)

Jez Samuel, a mobiles expert at Uswitch, emphasized the importance of taking phone security seriously. He noted that while overall thefts have slightly decreased, phone snatching remains high and often goes unreported. "Leaving your device unprotected is effectively giving criminals the keys to your entire digital life," he said. "A stolen phone can grant access to banking apps, emails, and personal accounts within minutes, putting both money and identity at risk."

Samuel also called on manufacturers to make stronger anti-theft protections easier to access and activate by default. He stressed that speed is crucial if a phone is stolen. "The faster you track, lock, or wipe the device, contact your network provider, and change your passwords, the higher your chances are of stopping criminals before they can do serious harm."

The warning comes as the Metropolitan Police has set a deadline of June 1 for phone manufacturers to implement stronger anti-theft measures or face potential legal consequences.