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Scared of Thieves!

J

Jim4D

macrumors member
Original poster
Oct 25, 2013
37
4
I've read of one anti theft device on the watch regarding apple pay but not much else.

Once the watch is paired to a phone is it locked to that phone for good without some sort of code or do you think it will have a factory reset making it a goldmine for thieves?

Iphone thefts have reduced massively no thanks to "find my Iphone" and the activation lock I was wondering if the watch had some kind of similar activation lock?

What do people think on this subject?
 
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Oh lordie! Me oh my! Heavens! I eh-so scared!!

No. Your own theory on a Rolex being difficult to sell makes no sense.
 
Okay maybe the Rolex point was bad(edited for clarity). Still a valid point of discussion though. Still a few valid point, Iphones were a high theft item especially around London, the theft rates have dropped largely due to the fact the phone is almost worthless once it has been activation locked.

I can see the watch will become a high value theft target unless some safeguards are in place, are there any?

Do people have insurance that cover themselves against theft for watches? Will the watch be covered?
 
The area in which you are should determine whether you anything you wear or have in your possession should be worn / displayed. It's just common sense.

An expensive watch should NOT be worn in a place where it's worth a month's salary of someone in that place.

A woman should not wear a $1,000 necklace in a low-income neighborhood. A man shouldn't wear a $1,000 watch in a low-income neighborhood. It doesn't mean they CAN'T - just you're opening yourself up to some low-level scum person stealing your goods. Same as a high school where half the students are low-income.

I'm not saying that low-income people are more prone to steal, but all you need is ONE. The word will get out that you're wearing a $1,000 Apple watch, and it just needs to trickle down to ONE person who wants to use that for gain, and your watch will be gone.

High-income people steal too, but the reward/punishment ratio of a $1,000 watch will make it less likely to be stolen. Plus, there will be more people wearing/using $1,000+ items to make it 'normal'.

Will I be taking off my watch and showing it to everyone at work? Yes. Will I go downtown to a bar and show everyone my watch? Hell, no.
 
I have gadget insurance which I use for all of my expensive items, such as phone, macbook, iMac etc. I will just add my watch to this, so if it's broken or stolen then I will be covered.
 
Diginari said:
I have gadget insurance which I use for all of my expensive items, such as phone, macbook, iMac etc. I will just add my watch to this, so if it's broken or stolen then I will be covered.
Click to expand...

Where do you get your gadget insurance? Also if you don't mind saying, how much does it cost you?
 
schmittg said:
Where do you get your gadget insurance? Also if you don't mind saying, how much does it cost you?
Click to expand...

Of course I don't mind, I get it from my bank "Barclays" which is part of my account, costs me around £15.00 per month, also comes with Car breakdown cover which makes it a bargain really.
 
Sludgepond said:
You'll leave your phone, wallet, and watch with a gun in your gut/back.
Click to expand...

Ah, so we've escalated to armed robbery now.

The majority of iPhone thefts before activation lock were in places like subways - people lightly hold their phone and someone grabs it and runs out as the door closes.

Apple Watch being always visible will probably make you a higher value target for a thief, but ripping a watch off someones wrist is a bit more difficult than just grabbing a phone.

Maybe if you are wearing an Edition model, otherwise I don't think this will be much of an issue.
 
People have been robbed of their shoes, so to say that robbing someone of an apple watch is not likely is silly. This is going to be especially true if there is more to be gained from the watch than just the watch. If something like ApplePay can be accessed for a time or identity information gained it will make the watch a target. It won't be as easy to steal as a phone placed on a Starbucks table, but people have been stealing jewelry, including watches, from others since forever. Use your head when out in public and don't flaunt your possessions and attract unwanted attention. Common sense. If you get a gun stuck in your gut fork over your stuff and hope you live to buy another gadget.
 
Much like the phone, a stolen  ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜ isn't going to do much for anyone.
 
lellis2k said:
Can you link to something that confirms this?

What is the process when selling the watch compared to when someone steals the watch?
Click to expand...

Like the phone once the watch is activated good luck trying to steal it. Youre more likely to be tracked down by the cops directly to your location at worst or at best you have a tiny brick you cant even use.
 
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AdonisSMU said:
Like the phone once the watch is activated good luck trying to steal it. Youre more likely to be tracked down by the copes directly to your location at worst or at best you have a tiny brick you cant even use.
Click to expand...

The OS on the watches will inevitably break, when it does there has to be some way to reset it, if it's user-resettable (i.e. through button combination) then will thieves be able to do this too?
If you have to take it to an Apple Store to reset it will they require proof-of-purchase? What if you bought one 2nd hand from eBay or a market-stall?
I can't seem to find any info on this stuff.
 
lellis2k said:
The OS on the watches will inevitably break, when it does there has to be some way to reset it, if it's user-resettable
Click to expand...

You mean like you can't do at the moment with an iPhone or 3rd Gen Apple TV?
Why would the security break and not be patched?
 
lellis2k said:
The OS on the watches will inevitably break, when it does there has to be some way to reset it, if it's user-resettable (i.e. through button combination) then will thieves be able to do this too?
If you have to take it to an Apple Store to reset it will they require proof-of-purchase? What if you bought one 2nd hand from eBay or a market-stall?
I can't seem to find any info on this stuff.
Click to expand...

And if youre a buyer you can now check online if a person is authorized to resell the apple product. Its just not worth the trouble and risk for theives.
 
jwball said:
You mean like you can't do at the moment with an iPhone or 3rd Gen Apple TV?
Why would the security break and not be patched?
Click to expand...

If you're phone fails to boot you can put it in DFU and restore it.

I didn't say security, I said the OS will break, i.e. the watch will fail to boot, a corrupt update or anything could cause this.

AdonisSMU said:
And if youre a buyer you can now check online if a person is authorized to resell the apple product. Its just not worth the trouble and risk for theives.
Click to expand...

If I wasn't aware you could check online then most people don't know, and many won't care. Watches will get stolen, you can't deny that, I'm just trying to work out what happens when they do. Activation Lock cuts thefts through deterrence, I'd like to see the same true of the watch.
 
Insurance is the way to go. Even if they cannot do much with the watch as a unit, the parts are worth money. The band is easy money, especially if it's anything other than the sport.
 
I have to say the Apple watch would be the least of my concerns. My wedding set is worth way more than any apple watch, Ih more than most apple watches and even my purses are worth more than most of the apple watches.

If you are walking down dark back alleys at night, maybe be concerned but otherwise I wouldn't be.
 
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