About this app

CrookCatcher is an app that takes a picture when someone tries to unlock your phone with the wrong PIN, password or pattern. It then secretly emails you the picture, the GPS location and estimated address of your phone. CrookCatcher helps thousands around the world protect their phones from thieves and unauthorized users.

🌐 Worldwide in use
With over 5 million downloads, CrookCatcher has helped countless people worldwide identifying thieves and recovering stolen phones.

🔒 Android's built-in lock screen protection
CrookCatcher utilises Android's built-in lock screen for a seamless and secure experience.

🔋 Battery
CrookCatcher is only active upon incorrect password, PIN, or pattern entries, remaining idle at other times to save battery 💤.

🥳 Essential Features (Free)
✅  Take picture
✅  Find phone GPS location
✅  Send alert emails with picture and location

⭐⭐ PRO Features ⭐⭐
✅  Take multiple pictures with both cameras
✅ Record sound clip
✅  Sound alarm
✅ Show custom message to thief on lock screen
✅  Show a fake home screen: if someone forces you to hand over your unlocked phone
✅ Take a picture when someone unlocks the phone successfully after previous failed attempts
✅ Postpone sending email if phone has no internet connection
✅ Change email subject: so a thief doesn't see revealing email notifications
✅ Lock the app with a pattern
✅ Disguise app: change CrookCatcher icon to a files icon.
✅ No ads

🧪 Experimental features
Enhance your device's security by blocking the power menu, quick tiles menu, and notification shade on the lock screen. This feature automatically turns off the screen and captures pictures if unauthorized access is detected. Please note that this is an experimental feature and may not be compatible with all devices. CrookCatcher utilizes the accessibility permission to detect and control these elements on the lock screen. (Currently being rolled out.)

🔑 Device Administrator Permission
This app uses the Device Administrator permission to securely monitor unlock attempts.

❗ Important Notes
- Due to Android security precautions, your phone must be unlocked once after reboot for CrookCatcher to access the camera.
- CrookCatcher does not support pop-up cameras or fingerprint errors.
- On android 13 and above, you will see a mandatory system notification when the camera is in use.

🛠 Help & Support
For more information please visit www.crookcatcher.app
For frequently asked questions, please visit www.crookcatcher.app/help
To learn how CrookCatcher respects your privacy, please visit www.crookcatcher.app/privacy.

Protect your phone from theft and unauthorised access with CrookCatcher!

New features

- Important bug fixes and layout improvements
- New: A start delay for audio recording and alarms can be set such that interference can be avoided.
- If you live in the EU you will now be asked to consent to personalised advertising according to GDPR regulations. Please consider clicking consent if you wish to support the development of CrookCatcher as earnings on non-personalised ads are significantly lower.

App Permissions

Allows using PowerManager WakeLocks to keep processor from sleeping or screen from dimming.
Allows applications to disable the keyguard if it is not secure.
Required to be able to access the camera device.
Allows an application to write to external storage.
Allows an app to access precise location.
Allows an app to access approximate location.
Allows applications to access information about networks.
Allows applications to open network sockets.
Allows an app to create windows using the type TYPE_APPLICATION_OVERLAY, shown on top of all other apps.
Allows an application to request deleting packages.
Allows an application to receive the ACTION_BOOT_COMPLETED that is broadcast after the system finishes booting.
Allows an app to use fingerprint hardware.
Allows an application to record audio.
Permission an application must hold in order to use ACTION_REQUEST_IGNORE_BATTERY_OPTIMIZATIONS.
Allows an application to read from external storage.