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Apple has done a very decent job of introducing measures to reduce the spread of stolen iPhones.

Apple Stores and Apple Authorised Service Providers are already not allowed to repair iPhones on which the customer is unable to disable the ‘Find My iPhone’ function.

Now, further measures are being implemented, rendering the iPhone a completely pointless object of any thief’s desire.

Apple’s new store policy that will make it harder for thieves to repair (and then sell) stolen iPhones is being spread around by internal documents, reports Business Insider.

Here’s more from MacWorld:

According to the report, the internal MobileGenius or GSX systems used by Apple repair technicians (at Apple Stores or Apple Authorised Service Providers) will now list if an iPhone (identified by the unique IEMI number) is in the global GSMA device registry for phones reported as missing.

If their systems indicate a device was reported missing, the technicians have been instructed to decline the repair.

So basically, it seems the onus is on an owner to register their iPhone as stolen for this to work, and then the Apple repair technicians can follow the new protocol.

That means it would be wise to check on your iPhone’s unique IEMI number and save it somewhere (not on your iPhone) so that you can refer to it if your device is ever taken.

You can find this IEMI number in the iPhone’s Settings app, under General > About.

This is just one added layer of protection. Wiping a code-locked iPhone is also a challenge that might dissuade thieves from taking your precious.

Sure, one is able to reset and erase a locked iPhone without needing to connect to a computer, but that requires access to your Apple account via your Apple ID‌ password.

If you’re the only one with all your passcode details, your iPhone is pretty safe from being hacked, used, and sold.

Even the FBI struggle to get into a heavily encrypted, locked iPhone to retrieve data they may need for evidence.

[sources:businessinsider&macworld]