The UK’s National Mobile Phone Crime Unit has reported that as nearly as
250,000 to 300,000 mobile phones are stolen all over the country annually.
Mobile phone theft is on the rise and since a mobile phone has become a part of
your daily life, losing one can be disappointing and frustrating. A stolen
phone might be used to make fraudulent calls on your behalf or gain access to
your personal details. Perhaps, it might be sold in the market to another
person who has no idea that the phone is stolen.
There are certain ways you can adopt to avoid being a victim to mobile
phone theft; it requires more common sense actually.
· Hide it from Plain Sight
You might feel the urge to wave or show off
your new iPhone 7 or Galaxy S7, but do so at your own peril. As previously
mentioned, the first and foremost way to prevent your phone from being stolen
is common sense and in such situations, it’s better to get a hold of it. Keep
your phone in sight at all times and don’t carry it in your hand for no
apparent reason.
If you are carrying a handbag or a satchel, put
it in the zipped compartment. Ideally, your bag should be within your reach. If
you want to keep it in your pocket, that’s fine, but remember to place it in
the front pocket. Furthermore, hold your phone with both hands especially when
you are texting or emailing; holding it in one hand makes it easier to be
snatched.
You need to be extra careful in specific
trouble spots; for example, if you are living in London, the area just outside
the London Tube station is a hotspot for phone thieves. Essentially, note down
your phone’s information like the IMEI number, your own number, make, model,
colour, and your PIN code. This will make it much easier for your phone to be
found if it is stolen.
· Apply a PIN Code
All phones come with the ability to be locked,
so it’s better to go in your phone settings and apply a PIN code. Whether it is
an alphanumeric password or a 3-digit number, if your phone does get stolen,
the thief will be unable to access your private and personal data.
· Install a Tracker Application
As soon as you purchase a new phone, install a
tracking app. Some phones like the iPhone and Android phones have this feature
built-in; it allows you to track your phone remotely and with the help of local
law enforcement, you can recover it easily.
· Block International Calls
Thieves can use your phone to conduct fraud and
all of those black market operations will be traced back to you. To avoid this,
go into your phone settings and disable calls to international and premium rate
numbers.
· Get Your Phone Registered with the Network
Carrier
It is highly recommended to register your phone
with your network provider, so that they can block it, in the event that it
gets stolen. This way, your phone will become useless to a thief and they won’t
be able to use it, even if they replace the SIM.
*The information in this blog is designed to provide helpful information on the subjects discussed. Please seek a professional for expert advice as we can not be held responsible for any damages or negative consequences upon following this information.