Spectator.co.uk so mainstream its the first time I even hear about them.
What you linked is an opinion piece by an anonymous "author" with no sources or anything to back up any claim.
You'll have to do better than that. Let's not forget which one of us is a proven liar in this discussion. We all have the history to prove it
You report it stolen to the police. You report it stolen to your home insurance (if you have one). Then you get a new phone and move on with your life.
People talk about theft protection settings. They're good to have. But they're most likely not gonna get you your phone back.