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Journalism of Courage
You’re born under the lucky stars if you manage to find things you lose, even more, if you manage to get back your lost mobile phone, and even more if you do that in Delhi NCR. Amid several cases of thefts and snatching being reported in New Delhi, Shahrukh, a tech influencer, managed to find two phones he lost to theft.
Shahrukh, 29, visited Delhi’s Jama Masjid with his wife, for iftar on April 15, 2023. In some time, he realised his iPhone 13 and his wife’s Xiaomi Civi 2 were missing from his side bag. He tried to track his iPhone 13, but failed. According to his post on X, he then tried calling his other phone and it rang.
He mentioned the thieves couldn’t turn his Xiaomi phone off, courtesy of the ‘Shutdown Confirmation’ feature on the phone. This feature asks for a password when someone tries to switch the phone off. The phone also has a setting by which access to the control center and toggles are available only when the phone is unlocked.
Since the thieves couldn’t turn the phone off or turn the airplane mode on, data was active. Shahrukh, from a third phone he had, logged in to his wife’s Xiaomi account and started tracking it, while also making the phone play a sound. The thieves, unable to turn the sound off, dropped the phone and fled. Shahrukh kept calling his wife’s number until someone answered and handed over not just that phone, but the iPhone as well.
Speaking to indianexpress.com, Shahrukh shared more about the evening he spent looking for his mobile phones. “Had I failed to trace the other phone, the only option I would have been left with was reaching out to the police, and usually, almost no support is given to lost smartphones. I would have lost it,” Shahrukh said.
He also shared a few tips on how people can prevent such incidents, and elaborated on how trolls are claiming his post is part of a paid promotion. “The first and foremost thing people should do is to be aware that thieves are everywhere, so safeguard your valuables. Use anti-theft bags or backpacks,” he said. Anti-theft bags have special pockets that can be opened only after bags are removed from the shoulder.
Sharing some tips to protect mobile phones in crowded areas, Shahrukh highlighted the importance of setting up lock screens and using E-Sims. “Or use numerical chain locks, chest bags, or just hold bags on your chest. Don’t keep anything in your pocket,” Shahrukh told indianexpress.com. “Women need to be vigilant too since it is easier for thieves to steal from side bags,” he said.
Shahrukh’s post on X garnered over 2.9 million views, triggering a barrage of responses. Some claimed it is a made up story as part of a paid promotion for Xiaomi. Reacting to this, Shahrukh said, “People are claiming it’s a paid post since I happened to share stories of two thefts back to back. Recently, my brother who had visited NCR had his iPhone stolen near the Botanical Garden metro station in Noida. I had posted about that and that also went viral. That is when I thought why not share my past experience about my phones stolen at Jama Masjid. It went even more viral maybe because I found it,” he said.
Shahrukh explained why the claims of ‘paid post’ do not stand. “Xiaomi won’t collaborate on a paid post for this (Shutdown Confirmation) feature because it is not available in India. The Civi 2 and the feature are available only in China. I do hope the company brings this feature to India after this story,” he said.
It would be better if everyone explores the safety features inbuilt in your smartphones and turn the useful ones on, just in case of a theft.
