We keep plenty of travel information on our phones – ways to pay, itineraries and travel insurance information, to name a few. We rely on them for day-to-day activities too – maps to get around new areas, buying tickets and passes to attractions, and checking rules and customs of local areas. Without our phones, the world can become much more difficult to navigate.
So, what do you do if your phone is stolen in…
What to do if your phone is stolen in France?
With Paris being a hotspot for pickpocketing, phones are particularly vulnerable. They’re high value, easy to grab and often held out in front or kept in an easy-to-access pocket, making them attractive to pickpockets.
If you realise your phone is gone, you should:
- Use ‘find my iphone’ or ‘locate my android device’. This will allow you to lock your device remotely. Many phones now also let you protect personal information too, like erasing photos and messages remotely.
- Change your passwords and suspend your line.
- Contact your provider for your IMEI number – you’ll need it for the police and your insurer.
- File a complaint with the police. In an emergency, you can contact them by calling 17 from any phone. However, if your phone is lost/stolen and you realise later, so it’s not an emergency, call the local police station closest to wherever you’re staying.
It’s worth looking this up before you go, or you can find it here: Find a police station | Ma Sécurité
- Contact your travel insurer with the IMEI number and your police report number.
If you had other items stolen, such as your identity documents and your cards or cash, you can contact the British embassy in France for help.
What to do if your phone is stolen in Spain?
Theft is a big problem in Spain, especially in the tourist hotspot of Barcelona. Theft represents 59% of all crime in Barcelona, with 40.3% taking place in public streets and 24.4% on public transport.
If your phone is stolen, you should:
- Use ‘find my iphone’ or ‘locate my android device’. This will allow you to lock your device remotely. Many phones now also let you protect personal information too, like erasing photos and messages remotely.
- Change your passwords and suspend your line.
- Contact your provider for your IMEI number – you’ll need it for the police and your insurer.
- File a complaint with the police. The Spanish word for police report is ‘denuncia policial’.
- In an emergency, you can contact them by calling 112 from any phone. However, if your phone is stolen and it’s not an emergency, you should call 092.
- Contact your travel insurer with the IMEI number and your police report number.
If you had other items stolen, such as your identity documents and your cards or cash, you can contact the British embassy in Spain for help.
What to do if your phone is stolen in Italy?
Theft is a common crime in Italian cities. The huge crowds of tourists, especially around attractions, makes mobile phone theft a frequently reported crime, especially online.
- Use ‘find my iphone’ or ‘locate my android device’. This will allow you to lock your device remotely. Many phones now also let you protect personal information too, like erasing photos and messages remotely.
- Change your passwords and suspend your line.
- Contact your provider for your IMEI number – you’ll need it for the police and your insurer.
- File a complaint with the police. If it’s an emergency, you can call the police on 112. If it’s not an emergency, or to report a minor crime, call 113 from any phone to be connected to the state police.
- Contact your travel insurer with the IMEI number and your police report number.
If you had other items stolen, such as your identity documents and your cards or cash, you can contact the British embassy in Italy for help.
What to do if your phone is stolen in Bali?
Criminals in Bali target tourists for minor crimes, such as phone theft and mugging. With mopeds a popular way to get around, criminals are using them to snatch phones from the hands of tourists.
- Use ‘find my iphone’ or ‘locate my android device’. This will allow you to lock your device remotely. Many phones now also let you protect personal information too, like erasing photos and messages remotely.
- Change your passwords and suspend your line.
- Contact your provider for your IMEI number – you’ll need it for the police and your insurer.
- File a complaint with the police. If it’s an emergency, you can call the police on 110. While most operators speak English, it’s not always guaranteed.
- Contact the tourist police, a special force designed to help tourists who are the victims of crime. They can signpost you to support, and offer assistance. The tourist police station in Kuta is located at JL Kartika Plaza, Kuta (near the Discovery Shopping Mall). Phone number: +62 361 754 599/ +62 361 224 111.
- Contact your travel insurer with the IMEI number and your police report number.
If you had other items stolen, such as your identity documents and your cards or cash, you can contact the British embassy in Bali for help.
How we’ll help if your phone gets stolen
You need to make sure your insurance policy covers what you’re going to claim for. Consider gadget cover as an add-on which can cover phones/cameras/laptops etc. With Gadget cover, you could claim for a replacement or reimbursement for the cost of the item, or partial reimbursement, depending on what exactly your policy covers.
You will need to:
- Have your policy number and policy schedule to hand.
- Have the original flight/carrier/hotel booking invoice which confirms the dates of your departure and return to the UK.
- Keep a record of everything that relates to your claim.
- Report any lost, stolen or damaged belongings to local police to where you are staying within 24 hours of the incident. CSA will need to see the official police report.
How to make a claim
You can make a travel claim online or call our UK call centre to discuss your policy on 0330 400 1381.
If you want to discuss an existing claim, call 01702 427215 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm.