It's not his iPhone. (Also it's not total surveillance.)
The prick stole it, and is using her personal data to stalk her friends and use the phone for himself. He probably stole her other goods also. He's a common thief!
It's seems to be you not understanding that thousands of stolen items get normally sold every day, most of the time as "second hand"...
No, he does not own the phone.
That part is pretty integral to the story.
You might as well say "Take away the part about the pictures and you're just left with a story of a stolen phone."