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Theft Detection Lock is easily the best feature Google has added to Android over the past few years, and it seems that Apple may agree with that assessment. According to a report from 9to5Mac, Apple is working on its own version that will automatically lock down a device if it gets snatched out of a user's hands.
Apple and Google have added a bunch of useful tools designed to thwart thieves and anyone else hoping to gain access to your phone's data. However, most of those features are for naught if a thief manages to snatch an unlocked phone out of your hands. That's why Theft Detection Lock is so invaluable.
According to the report, Apple's system is going to rely on several different signals, including the phone's accelerometer, to detect sudden snatch-like movements. It's also claimed that the system will take into account the distance from a paired Apple Watch. Presumably, if that distance suddenly increases without warning, the phone will know to lock up.
The snatch detection feature will apparently operate on similar rules to Stolen Device Protection. That feature can detect whether or not your phone is in a familiar location, and in the event that its security settings get ramped up to 11. This suggests to me that the Theft Detection feature will be a little more relaxed in familiar places, like your own home, only to get stricter as soon as you leave.
When is it coming?
The report says that there are no details on when iPhone's theft detection feature will be announced, only that it's currently in active development. Considering how much personal data is stored on them and the fact that iPhones are very desirable, the sooner Apple gets this feature rolling out, the better.
I'm lucky enough that I've never actually had my phone snatched out of my hands, but I have experienced Theft Detection Lock kicking in because it thinks someone has tried.
You can't get mad because a security feature is a little too overprotective, especially since the solution is as simple as unlocking your phone again. The last thing you want is for your phone to decide a legitimate snatching isn't worth locking everything up for.
Maybe we'll see this feature unveiled at WWDC 2026 alongside iOS 27, or maybe we're going to have to wait longer for Apple to catch up with a feature Google has had for almost two years. Would you want this feature on your iPhone? Let us know in the comments.
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