Mobile phone snatch thefts soar – what insurance do you need?

We use them to chat, work, and even kill time, so when a mobile phone is stolen, it can leave a hole in our lives as well as our pockets. With thefts more than doubling in the last year, make sure your device is properly insured.

Insurance can help pay for a replacement phone, but don't assume you're already covered by an existing policy. Go Compare analysis found less than one in five policies included mobile phone cover away from home as standard. 

Here, Which? takes a look at what insurance you need to protect your smartphone and what else you can do if your device is stolen.

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How common is phone theft?

According to the latest Home Office figures, so-called 'snatch thefts' are rising at an alarming rate. 

In the year to March 2024, there were an estimated 78,000 thefts from the person – defined as items such as phones, bags and wallets that were stolen without force being used or threatened. That's up from 30,000 the previous year.

The government claims the surge is being driven by a growing demand for second-hand phones, both in the UK and abroad.

The Home Office is therefore calling on manufacturers to explore ways to stop phones being traded illegally, such as ensuring any stolen device can be permanently disabled.

What insurance cover do you need?

With top smartphones now costing north of £1,000, replacing one can leave you seriously out of pocket. 

Manufacturer's warranties and guarantees only apply to mechanical breakdowns or faults. And while retailer protection plans include cover for accidental damage, they often exclude theft or loss. 

So what are your options?

Gadget and mobile phone insurance

Standalone gadget insurance is another option if you only want to cover electronic equipment, such as a phone. There is also separate mobile phone insurance. It should cover the cost of repairs or replacement if your handset is lost, stolen or damaged away from the home.

A Which? survey of more than 3,000 people from August 2024 found one in five have gadget insurance. Of those who purchased gadget insurance, 97% had not made a claim in the past 12 months. But of the remaining 3% who did make a claim, 90% said gadget insurance was worth it based on the outcome of the claim.

Of those that haven't taken out a standalone policy, one in four believed it was too expensive. However, Go Compare quotes data shows it may be cheaper than you think. 

The comparison site found the average monthly cost of gadget insurance for the iPhone 15 128GB is £6.97, and £7.65 for the Samsung Galaxy S23 128GB. That adds up to just £83.64 to cover an iPhone 15 for one year, or £91.80 for a Samsung Galaxy – a fraction of the cost of replacing these two models.

Common types of cover also include unauthorised calls made after your phone has been stolen. Some may even cover you when abroad in certain countries. But make sure you read the small print first before you buy as every policy is different. 

• Find out more: how to get the best mobile phone insurance

Personal possessions cover

Our survey from last month found two-thirds of people who did not take out a standalone gadget insurance policy already had cover through their home insurance policy.

However, as most home insurance policies don’t automatically cover your belongings outside of the home, you’ll need to have additional cover in place to protect your belongings from loss, damage or theft.

Personal possessions insurance covers you for items you take with you and is normally sold as an add-on to contents insurance. You can buy it after taking out a policy at an extra cost, so don't worry if you forget. This type of policy should cover everything from mobile phones and laptops to clothes and jewellery.

But watch out, because adding high-value items could increase your contents insurance premiums when you come to renew. You should also double-check the single-item limit. This is the maximum amount your insurer will pay out for an item, regardless of its value. So, for example, if the limit is £1,000 and your electronic device is worth £1,500, that’ll be the most you’d be able to claim.

It's also worth comparing the excess you'd pay on a contents or personal possessions policy with what you'd pay by insuring it some other way – a standalone gadget or mobile phone cover, for example. If your phone is worth £600 and the contents excess is £500, it may not be worth the cost of insuring.

• Find out more: making a home insurance claim

Packaged bank accounts

If you have a packaged bank account, you may already be covered. Our survey found 48% of people were covered in this way.

These are current accounts that come with extra benefits, such as insurance. In exchange you pay a monthly fee, which could be less than buying cover separately.

For example, Nationwide's FlexPlus account – a Which? Best Buy – includes mobile phone insurance. The building society has announced it will raise its current price from £13 to £18 a month from December 2024.

• Find out more: best packaged bank accounts

What aren't you covered for?

As always, it's a good idea to read the small print for any caveats that might affect your ability to claim.

For example, claiming for theft is likely to be unsuccessful if you left the stolen item unattended or in a location that wasn't properly secured. 

Plus, some policies won’t accept a claim within the first 14 days, either of a policy starting, or within 14 days of a policy amendment.

To claim on your insurance, you must be able to provide proof of purchase. If your device is stolen, you need to report it as soon as possible and get a police reference number.

What to do if your phone has been stolen

• Text or call it: someone might have found it and you can organise to get it back.
• Lock and locate it: if you can't get hold of your phone, you should be able to lock it down by using Android Device Manager or Apple's Find my Phone on another device. You can also set up a lock screen with another contact number asking the person who's found it to call that number.
• Report it: report the loss to the police so they can open a file. You'll need this for insurance purposes.
• Change your passwords: if you use mobile banking, email and social media on your phone, it's wise to change your passwords in case your accounts have been compromised.
• Tell your provider: if you’re on a contract, report the loss to your mobile phone provider immediately. Some phone networks have signed up to a £100 'liability cap', which means you'll only be liable to pay for the first £100 of your phone bill if your phone is lost or stolen if you're on a monthly contract. But the cap is only activated if you report your phone as lost or stolen within 24 hours of it going missing.

Find out more: what to do if your phone gets stolen

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