Street Robbery
Protect your Mobile Phone
Thousands of mobile phones are being stolen by street robbers every month and young people are especially vulnerable. 28% of all robberies involve a mobile phone. By taking a few simple steps you can reduce your risk of becoming a victim of mobile phone theft.
What you can do to protect your phone:
By providing the police with some basic information about your phone, you can make it more difficult for a thief to use it. Mobile phone networks can now stop stolen and lost phones being used on any network, even if the SIM card is removed and replaced.
Please record the details requested on this page and store them in a safe place.
These details may be needed by the police if you report your phone stolen. The 15-digit serial or IMEI number helps to identify your phone and can be accessed by keying in digits into most phones or by looking behind the battery of your phone. The digits to use are as follows:
*#06#
This number could help the police to trace ownership quickly.
If your phone is stolen, please give these details to the police:
Phone make and model
Fascia details (colour etc.)
Phone number
Serial/IMEI number
PIN number
KEEP THESE DETAILS IN A SAFE PLACE, SEPARATE FROM YOUR PHONE.
For more information on phone blocking, visit the:
Immobilise Phone Crime Campaign website
To get your stolen or lost phone blocked across all networks, immediately phone:
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your network provider
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or alternatively: 08701 123 123
Awareness in public
The value of your phone should prompt you to be on guard to assess the following factors:
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Always use your phone’s security lock code or PIN number, protecting the phone and the stored number content.
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Register your phone with the operator. If you report your phone stolen, the operator should then be able to bar the handset and the SIM card.
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Try not to use your phone in crowded areas where you feel unsafe
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Avoid displaying your phone in public view, where thieves can see it as a target
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Do not leave your phone unattended and keep it with you at all times.
Security Marking
Security mark both the battery and mobile phone with your postcode and either:
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house number
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or first two initials of your house name.
If an ultra-violet marker is used please renew the marks after a couple of months.
Street robbers are cowards, help us catch a coward
If you know who has taken your mobile phone, or have any information about anyone involved in criminal activity, please call Crimestoppers anonymously.
Call anonymously with information about crime
CRIMESTOPPERS
0800 555 111
http://www.crimestoppers-uk.org/
You could get a cash reward
Last update: Wednesday, September 13, 2006