iPhone theft victim is sent death threats and gunman video after tracking stolen device to China

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. iPhone victim sent threatening video showing man armed with a gun Mr Bramah-Calvert, whose phone was an iPhone 13, said: “I’d been following it for days and then was surprised to see it suddenly in China, and then I started getting messages to my husband’s phone. The pair received threatening messages when Christopher’s iPhone was stolen and tracked to China Mr Bramah-Calvert ignored the demands on advice from police and his insurance company, before the phone disappeared from the tracking app. open image in gallery Screengrab from the video sent to Christopher Bramah-Calvert’s husband demanding he release his stolen iPhone from his Apple account The tight security of iPhones means that it is difficult for a criminal who has stolen one to get into or use the device without its passcode or the owner’s Apple account password, unless it is remotely removed from that account for someone else to use, which also requires a login. He said: “I can see why go ‘Yes, fine take it,’ but that’s what they are preying on – they are making these messages and violent demands in the hope that people will just give in and buckle.” The theft of Mr Bramah-Calvert’s phone was reported to the Metropolitan Police, but Insp Green said his force has also dealt with instances of stolen devices ending up in China.