Android 15’s Theft Detection Lock, designed to thwart phone snatchers, is triggering unexpectedly for some users, with reports surfacing on Reddit highlighting false alarms during everyday activities.
Introduced as part of Android 15’s security enhancements, the Theft Detection Lock uses AI and other parameters to detect when a phone is forcibly taken, locking the device automatically if someone flees on foot, by bicycle, or in a vehicle. The system also activates when a device goes offline, a common tactic used by thieves to prevent tracking.
However, users are reporting that the feature is overly sensitive, triggering in situations where the phone remains in their possession. One user reported the feature triggered “when I ran out of work,” while another experienced a lockout while “sitting on the bus.”
Another user recounted an incident while jogging, stating, “I was sitting on the bus when the auto theft detect triggered and locked my phone.” Though surprised, the user noted being “relieved and impressed,” while pointing out the system’s potential oversensitivity.
Google has stated that Theft Detection Lock relies primarily on a phone’s accelerometer to detect sudden movements or changes in direction. Early tests at Android Authority required multiple simulated theft attempts to activate the feature, suggesting Google may have since increased the sensitivity of the detection algorithm.
The reliance on the accelerometer could explain the false triggers during activities like running or commuting. While most users don’t seem overly frustrated, unexpected lockouts could be improved, and Google should work on refining the feature’s reliability, users say.
