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EnglishWhat Is CrookCatcher and What Does It Do?
Updated
CrookCatcher is an Android anti-theft app that takes an intruder selfie when someone enters a wrong PIN, pattern, or password, then emails you that photo along with the recorded GPS location. It suits anyone who wants usable evidence if their phone is stolen or someone tries to unlock it — the site states it is free on Android with no registration, and lists a Pro tier for stronger evidence and extra deterrent features.
How it works
The site describes a three-step flow from a failed unlock to evidence you can act on:
- Intruder selfie — when someone enters a wrong PIN, pattern, or password, CrookCatcher automatically takes a front-camera photo and records the location.
- Instant email alert — the photo and location are sent to your email inbox right away, before the person realizes it happened.
- Share the evidence — you can pass the photo and location to the police or to people nearby to help recover the phone.
Because the alert goes out by email rather than staying only on the device, the evidence can reach you even if the phone is no longer in your hands.
What evidence you collect
Every failed attempt is saved as a timeline, so you can see the full sequence of events. According to the site, each entry includes:
- Photos and video — an intruder selfie on every attempt, plus video with sound on Pro.
- Time and location — each event is stamped with when and where it happened.
- Labeled events — you can tell at a glance whether it was a failed unlock or a break-in.
- Off-device backup (Pro) — evidence is backed up to Google Drive, so it survives even if the phone is gone.
Free vs. Pro
The site frames the split as "everything you need to catch an intruder is free," with Pro adding stronger evidence and more ways to fight back.
| Capability | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Intruder selfie on wrong PIN/pattern/password | Yes | Yes |
| GPS location with every alert | Yes | Yes |
| Instant email alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Video with sound | — | Yes |
| Break-in detection (alerts even if they later guess the right unlock) | — | Yes |
| Back camera capture | — | Yes |
| Google Drive backup | — | Yes |
| Loud alarm | — | Yes |
| Lock screen warning message | — | Yes |
| Fake home screen | — | Yes |
| App lock (pattern-lock CrookCatcher so it can't be disabled) | — | Yes |
If your goal is simply to capture a face and a location on a failed unlock, the free tier covers it. If you want evidence that holds up better (voice, movement, surroundings) or features that keep the app from being switched off, that is what Pro is for.
Who it fits — and what to check first
CrookCatcher fits Android users who want a low-effort tripwire: install it, and a wrong unlock attempt turns into an emailed photo and location. The site reports 4.6 stars from 90K+ ratings, 12M+ downloads, and activity since 2014, which suggests a long-running app rather than a new experiment.
Before relying on it, confirm two things on your own device:
- Email delivery works on your phone. The whole mechanism depends on the alert reaching your inbox, so test it with a deliberate wrong unlock and check that the photo and location arrive.
- The app can't be easily disabled. On the free tier, someone who knows their way around Android settings may be able to turn it off; the Pro app-lock feature exists specifically to prevent that.
Current pricing, subscription terms, and any login requirements are not specified in the available site information, so check the Play Store listing for those details before deciding between free and Pro.