Find My Phone Apps

Find my phone apps have been in use for a while but are seeing a rise in popularity with the rise in smartphone theft. But an unsettling trend is that more people are using the app to track down the criminals and paying them personal visits. This dangerous because no matter how cases you hear that the people confronted the criminals get their phones back with no confrontation, there are many stories of violence on both sides. Many phone recoverers's bring weapons along, like hammers, knives and firearms in order to threaten the thief. But many times this just causes more violence and increases the risk.  

The police are very against this idea, of people taking the law into their own hands. But a big problem is that police can not go and retrieve the phones themselves without violating laws nor can they send the time going around and knocking on doors asking for phones back. But they warn that they do not endorse vigilantism. Because of this dispute they are pushing for phone companies to install the kill switch. Another idea is that people might be using this kill switch as a way to lure people in and rob them or worse.

This is another major reason for companies to install kill switches. But still the companies refuse to do so because theft is a major income for them. They make a lot of money through stolen phones and are not fans of people going out of getting their phones back because it loses them money. They say that the kill switch could easily be used to destroy peoples phones but if the phone is properly backed up. It should not be that large of a concern by the people. There is certainly a large debate between, whether you should go track down your phone in person or call the police and do it safe thing. There are good points on each side of the argument. One point is that if the cops are not going to do anything then what's the point. The phone is not cheap and there is a good chance that the person is just holding onto the phone looking to contact people. But another point of the other side is that the person will not be looking to give back the phone if they stole it. So the I am spilt down the middle, if a person gets their phone back on their own, but if a person is beaten up or killed while trying  to get their phone back , its their fault.