Apple Working on iPhone Anti-Snatching Feature That Locks Device Automatically
By Timmy
Apple is quietly developing a new iPhone security feature that can automatically lock the device the moment it detects it has been snatched from the user's hand, according to code discovered by 9to5Mac. The feature is currently under active development and addresses one of the most common and difficult to counter forms of smartphone theft: when a phone is stolen while the screen is already unlocked.
How It Works
The anti-snatching system would rely on multiple signals working in tandem to confirm a theft event:
Accelerometer data — sudden, erratic jerking movements consistent with a phone being forcibly pulled from a hand will trigger the detection system
Apple Watch distance monitoring — if the paired Apple Watch rapidly increases its distance from the iPhone, the system interprets this as a possible theft indicator
Location and Wi-Fi context — the iPhone checks whether it is connected to a familiar Wi-Fi network or is at a known location such as home or work; if it is not, the lock response is more aggressive
Once a snatch is confirmed, the iPhone immediately locks itself and restricts access to sensitive areas protected under Stolen Device Protection. Stolen Device Protection is Apple's existing security layer that was introduced in iOS 17.3.
Android Already Has This
The feature is widely described as Apple's answer to Android's Theft Detection Lock, a similar AI-powered capability that Google introduced to protect Android users from snatch thefts. Apple's implementation appears to go further by layering in Apple Watch proximity data and Stolen Device Protection rules on top of basic motion detection.
Notably, Stolen Device Protection is now enabled by default as of iOS 26.4, signaling Apple's increasing priority on proactive security measures.
No Official Timeline Yet
Apple has not officially confirmed the feature or announced a release date. Code references seen by 9to5Mac make it clear the system is under active development, but it remains uncertain whether it will ship with iOS 27 or arrive sooner as part of a point.
Phone snatching has surged globally in major cities including London, Hong Kong, and New York, putting pressure on device makers to move beyond reactive security tools toward features that act in the critical first seconds of a theft.
