https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9851138
So what happened to the thief? Did police recover more phones from him?
Tracked and recovered my stolen Samsung mobile
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My Galaxy S21 mob was stolen 6days back. I lodged a diary at local p.s.
Chances of recovery was dim as the miscreant had removed the SIMs and it was not connected to wifi. Google find my device tracking was stopped and practically I was not able to use it any more even to wipe data or secure lock. However using Samsung smartthingsfind I was able to get occasional email alerts on it's location near to few hundred meters (5-6 apartment buildings).
High end galaxy devices can use a special technology called uwb (as of now provided in Apple and few Samsung devices) to ping other nearby devices to send alert whenever any other similar devices pass nearby. I kept visiting the locations and kept searching for it using another old phone. At one point, coser to the lost device, the map in the App turned into a signal strength indicator. I zeroed on the building and the apartment where the signal level was highest.
Finally with help of a patrolling police van, we entered the place last night and made the device to ring (wo any network). Miscreant was taken to PS and my ph was handed over after another GD.
I was not aware of the full potential of the technology. There is not enough user guides in DD or elsewhere in net. Forget police, even Samsung service centre staff couldn't help. I kept searching for more info how to zero on the target but couldn't get any practical guide. However I have gathered some experience and learned xiaomi and vivo are also part of Fira consortium and will be enabling this feature on their phones.
I will add some more practical tips for device protection when I have time.
Deal Wiki
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Last updated by: Total_Fun
What is ultra-wideband (UWB), and how does it work?
https://insights.samsung.com/2021/08/25/what-is...
Top Comments
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9851184
He was under blankets dreaming something when we went in. This was an under construction building and there were 6-7 guys staying there. He was 50 something I guess. Police gave him some tight slaps and he brought out a few more phones. He was taken to p.s. and put in lock up. Rest of the guys were not pulled up. It was a low key raid per say and the entire place was not searched.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9851145
Live example of Himmat ae marda, Madad ae khuda.
Kudos bro!
Kudos bro!
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9851153
I think it only available in plus and ultra models
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9851170
Amazing 
, congrats, please add information on this feature so that we can also enable and utilise in need. Thanks
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9851174
Thanks everyone for the encouraging comments. Indeed it was a challenge and more than the phone I couldn't give up on precious photos, videos and some old ver APKs. So I stayed on despite the odds. The cold winter outside helped me to somewhat move in stealth and avoid getting spotted but I didn't require to trespass. I needed to stay low to avoid alerting the thief who could throw the device beyond a point.
My cloud backup was already touching limits and I was procrastinating taking a backup before I lost the phone. Unless until you loose a phone, you don't realise the pain of delaying a few simple steps. Best option is to sync backup of everything so that your pain is easier. It was my primary device and linked to all my accounts and everything else possible but I didn't panic and was waiting for the guy to do mistakes. After power off/battery drained, he kept it off for first 2 days. I was trying to get into his mind to read his next possible moves.
In the meantime I blocked my SIM and managed to get the duplicate sim. It was not easy as my biometrics were locked in aadhaar and without biometrics, carriers wont give you a duplicate sim. And one cannot unlock biometrics without OTP sent to your original number. Presently only way to do that is by visiting an Aadhar centre and changing the linked phone number. It takes only few hours to reactivate your sim but outgoing SMSs are barred for first 24hrs so one cannot use any financial apps during this time.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9862942
Recently a relative got a sim using alternate number verification itself, no Aadhaar biometric (since biometric device wasn't working) and no Aadhaar OTP of the user since the phone anyway can't receive SMS when SIM is not there.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9851178
Kudos to you...
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9851195
I too got my fathers mobile within 24 hours with this. My father lost his mobile when going out for walk. I got a location in night and went to nearby by satellite police station they told me to wait as they didn't knew anything about it. In the morning I got again 3 times location and a mobile number. I this time with my father went to main police station and they went we my father and me to the location. We recovered the mobile. They guy who stole told that he gave it some other person to crack it and hence we got the mobile number. They couldn't crack it as it had exynos processor.Thats why I suggest Samsung mobile now as you don't know when your mobile gets stolen.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9851196
Congrats @Watson please share full steps to enable it and how to track? Was the phone having any sim or connected to wifi when you tracked? Was it switched on? And how to find if one's phone is having this feature or not?
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9851204
Got to know about the new features of Android now. Congratulations Bro 👏
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9851299
Wow Great technology
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9851313
I just logged into my samsung account and tried to find my stolen phone but without luck. Its similar to google tracking but its showing the message when I have entered a password for lost phone that when ever my lost phone would be in network till 29th Jan 2025 it would be locked. Hopefully it will do so.
I was able to see my 3 other devices here with location similar to google account find my devices.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9851316
I am putting down the replies together.
This UWB microchip thing is limited to a few devices available to S & Z series. Its more like a boosted NFC. This will not work if the device is off.
You don't need anything extra. Your device should be logged into Samsung account and you should not forget the Samsung account email and password. Samsung security is very strict and even after device wipe or reset, Samsung account cannot be deleted without original password /OTP so tracking will continue even if the thief manages to break into your lockscreen. Unless one uses common patterns or PIN, it is not easy to break into android security. Using a pwd is best choice.
I used an app from Galaxy store on my 2nd phone called "SmartThings". It is available in Galaxy or Play store. The official guide is here:https://www.samsung.com/in/support/apps-service...
Apart from mobile, it can also track Galaxy smartwatches, buds etc. you can also login using google account as well into https://smartthingsfind.samsung.com...in to start tracking right away.
Even if your phone is not S series or UWB enabled, still I would recommend to use this app. The android app has some benefits over the browser based tracker.
Once you install the app, click "Life" at bottom,
Click the '+' button on top right,
Add 'Find' from the list,
It will show all your mapped devices with Samsung account; click done at bottom.
Now you can click your device from Life tab to track and also can send an "invite" to a trusted contact to use the tracking features in the event you are middle of somewhere and not able to start tracking yourself. These days, no one offers to help a stranger with his device in a lost mobile case.
Lastly using 'side button' menu in settings, remap 'power off' with 'bixby' (for S & Z series). And use eSIM instead of physical SIM.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9853172
Very well explained
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more reply
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9851323
@Watson Kudos to you man. That's kinda an achievement literally.
There is a quote if you have watched the Sherlock series...
"I will solve your murder but it takes John Watson to save your life"
Well done 
@bikidas2060 Thanks for the tag mate.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9851667
Can you please explain more about these?
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more replies
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9851350
What about thief? You just device it may dropped I think
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9851650
Thanks bro! for sharing the great info with us definitely it is going to be very useful for us to find our stolen device using the info thread bookmarked
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9851671
Were you needed to pay police in any way? Just asking
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9851680
I am surprised the police from a random patrolling van went along with you to search a place? You didn't have to plead or beg? My guess is they agreed because you must have mentioned it is in a under construction building. If it was society, they wouldn't have gone.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9851781
Wow, great news. Congratulations on finding your phone.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9851809
Yayy!!
Now keep your phone safe so it won't happen again
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9851969
I've heard of FiRa (Fine Range) technologies. But I didn't know it was possible to achieve what you have done.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us. It would be very useful.
I really think you should share a TLDR version of the series of incidents on Twitter (X) and tag all the major Samsung handles like @ SamsungIndia @ SamsungUS @ SamsungElectronics even @ SamsungKorea
If someone important from Samsung notice this, it could be helpful to promote this Necessary Application for FiRa UWB ( Ultra-Wideband) technology, which could trickle down from flagship phones to premium midrange ones, and NOT just Samsung phones but many other brands too. They could even focus more on better anti-theft methods using it.
Also, I think even awareness about this kind of technology could work as a deterrent for thieves.
........
@Watson kg+ for your effects. Thanks for both informing us and inspiring to take every possible action.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us. It would be very useful.
I really think you should share a TLDR version of the series of incidents on Twitter (X) and tag all the major Samsung handles like @ SamsungIndia @ SamsungUS @ SamsungElectronics even @ SamsungKorea
If someone important from Samsung notice this, it could be helpful to promote this Necessary Application for FiRa UWB ( Ultra-Wideband) technology, which could trickle down from flagship phones to premium midrange ones, and NOT just Samsung phones but many other brands too. They could even focus more on better anti-theft methods using it.
Also, I think even awareness about this kind of technology could work as a deterrent for thieves.
........
@Watson kg+ for your effects. Thanks for both informing us and inspiring to take every possible action.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9852047
Wow! Thanks for the advise. Will surely think. So far I haven't put this anywhere other than DD. Intention was to alert genuine ppl who could benefit from my experience and not the petty thieves as they should'nt be able to find a workaround with the limitations. Smarter ones might know about this anyway.
Other than my family I didnt even tell anyone else as ppl would think someone could be paranoid to go this extent. All I knew was the most potential suspect was wearing a pale yellow jacket. I didnt have plan how to recover my device once I spot it, but as luck favours the prepared, I was simply lucky to get these cops who gave in for my conviction.
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more replies
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9852171
Wow!!! Kudos to you @Watson for pulling off something next to impossible!! 👏 🥳 It proves that if you keep trying your efforts never go in vain.Thanks for sharing it buddy 👍
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9852231
👍🏼Very very informative.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9852273
watson .... Change your name to sherlock ...
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9852281
However ==using Samsung smartthingsfind I was able to get occasional email alerts on it's location== near to few hundred meters (5-6 apartment buildings). @watson -- share us a pic of this
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9852321
Congratulations!! Fantastic read. Kudos to your efforts. However, I have some questions regarding the technology.
You told it sends signals to device in vicinity, what in case the stolen device is not in vicinity? Will this tech work?
Chances of a stolen phone in nearby area are rare.
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9852469
You deserve a brand new S24 Ultra as gift from Samsung
good job well done
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9852487
Does this person you got arrested know where you live?
https://www.desidime.com/discussions/tracked-and-recovered-my-stolen-samsung-mobile?page=2#post_9852501
If Yes.
Click here to reply
Reply
Kudos bro!
Thanks everyone for the encouraging comments. Indeed it was a challenge and more than the phone I couldn't give up on precious photos, videos and some old ver APKs. So I stayed on despite the odds. The cold winter outside helped me to somewhat move in stealth and avoid getting spotted but I didn't require to trespass. I needed to stay low to avoid alerting the thief who could throw the device beyond a point.
My cloud backup was already touching limits and I was procrastinating taking a backup before I lost the phone. Unless until you loose a phone, you don't realise the pain of delaying a few simple steps. Best option is to sync backup of everything so that your pain is easier. It was my primary device and linked to all my accounts and everything else possible but I didn't panic and was waiting for the guy to do mistakes. After power off/battery drained, he kept it off for first 2 days. I was trying to get into his mind to read his next possible moves.
In the meantime I blocked my SIM and managed to get the duplicate sim. It was not easy as my biometrics were locked in aadhaar and without biometrics, carriers wont give you a duplicate sim. And one cannot unlock biometrics without OTP sent to your original number. Presently only way to do that is by visiting an Aadhar centre and changing the linked phone number. It takes only few hours to reactivate your sim but outgoing SMSs are barred for first 24hrs so one cannot use any financial apps during this time.
I am putting down the replies together.
This UWB microchip thing is limited to a few devices available to S & Z series. Its more like a boosted NFC. This will not work if the device is off.
You don't need anything extra. Your device should be logged into Samsung account and you should not forget the Samsung account email and password. Samsung security is very strict and even after device wipe or reset, Samsung account cannot be deleted without original password /OTP so tracking will continue even if the thief manages to break into your lockscreen. Unless one uses common patterns or PIN, it is not easy to break into android security. Using a pwd is best choice.
I used an app from Galaxy store on my 2nd phone called "SmartThings". It is available in Galaxy or Play store. The official guide is here:https://www.samsung.com/in/support/apps-service...
Apart from mobile, it can also track Galaxy smartwatches, buds etc. you can also login using google account as well into https://smartthingsfind.samsung.com...in to start tracking right away.
Even if your phone is not S series or UWB enabled, still I would recommend to use this app. The android app has some benefits over the browser based tracker.
Once you install the app, click "Life" at bottom,
Click the '+' button on top right,
Add 'Find' from the list,
It will show all your mapped devices with Samsung account; click done at bottom.
Now you can click your device from Life tab to track and also can send an "invite" to a trusted contact to use the tracking features in the event you are middle of somewhere and not able to start tracking yourself. These days, no one offers to help a stranger with his device in a lost mobile case.
Lastly using 'side button' menu in settings, remap 'power off' with 'bixby' (for S & Z series). And use eSIM instead of physical SIM.