Mobile 'phone safety
Look after it or lose it
Look after it or lose it
Thousands of mobile 'phones are being stolen by street robbers every month with young people especially vulnerable. By taking some basic steps you can help reduce the risk of becoming a victim of mobile 'phone theft.
- When using your mobile 'phone in a public place, remain aware of your surroundings and try to avoid using your phone in crowded areas or where you feel unsafe.
- Displaying your 'phone in public is an open invitation for thieves so try to keep it hidden when you're out and about. Keep your phone with you at all times and never leave it unattended.
- Register your phone with your service provider. If you report your phone as stolen, the SIM card can then be barred.
- Make a note of the 15-digit serial / IMEI number. You can get this by dialling *#06# from your mobile phone or may be found behind the battery on some phones. This number will help identity your phone and trace ownership quickly.
- Mark your phone and battery with your postcode and house number using a permanent security marker pen.
If your mobile phone is stolen, it is important that your contact the police and your service provider as soon as possible.
You can help the police by giving them these details:
- Phone number
- Serial / IMEI number
- Pin number
- Fascia details
All UK mobile phone networks now share information on a single database so that within minutes of a phone being reported as lost or stolen, it is automatically blocked across all UK networks, thereby rendering it useless, even if the SIM card has been changed. For more information on mobile phone security, contact your local crime prevention officer through your local police station on Leicester (0116) 222 2222.
