Correct.

When my Android phone memory gets full, I connect it to my PC and cut and paste the photos to computer storage. Phone memory cleared.

When my spouse’s iPhone memory gets full, she connects it to her iMac, downloads all her photos to computer storage, but cannot clear them off the iPhone unless she then deletes each photo one by one on the iPhone, then deletes the Deleted Photos. Wtf.

Simple solution: When the strangers (or cops) say that Find My shows the phone is inside the house, just ask them for their phone number and call it. If no phone is heard ringing in the house, then buh-bye.