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Mobile Phone Theft
This page provides some tips on keeping your mobile phone safe. It also explains how you can use a national website to register the details of your mobile phone and other possessions. Carrying your mobile aroundIf you're not making a call, make sure that your phone is hidden away. Keep it in a front pocket or inside a bag. Don't attach it to your belt or around your neck. Thieves are opportunists - so don't make yourself an easy target.
Did you know that teenagers are more likely to have their mobile phone stolen than any other age group? Look around youIf you're making a call on your mobile in a public area, make sure you always keep an eye on what's going on around you.
You should also try and avoid using your mobile phone in public at night. If you do have to use your phone, try to find an area that's well-lit and if possible, avoid getting out your phone at train stations and bus stops, as these are areas that thieves target. Securing your handsetIt's always a good idea to write down the make and model of your phone, as well as your handset's unique identification number (IMEI number). This can be found behind the battery, or by dialling '*#06#' on most phones. Keep these details in a safe place and completely separate from your phone, as you'll need to give them to your service provider if your phone is lost or stolen.
Whatever model of phone you have, your handset has in-built security features that you can use to protect it. If you don't know how to use them, take a look at your phone's instruction manual. For example, you can set up a pin number that you have to key in before you make a call. This stops anyone else using your phone and protects any personal details your have in your phone book or your text message inbox. Register, report, reuniteIf your phone is lost or stolen, report it immediately to the police. You can contact the Derbyshire police on 0345 123 33 33.
You should also contact your network provider. When you get through, tell them your phone has been stolen and they'll be able to block both the handset and the SIM card so that they can't be used any more. Register  |
You can register the details of your handset with the National Mobile Phone Register at http://www.immobilise.com/. |
This will help the police to return your phone to you if it gets stolen. You should also register your phone's details with your network provider. |
ReportIf your phone is lost or stolen, report it immediately to the police. Call Derbyshire police on 0345 123 33 33.
You should also contact your network provider. When you get through, tell them your phone has been stolen and they'll be able to block both the handset and the SIM card so that they can't be used any more. ReuniteThe police are cracking down on mobile phone thieves. This means they're more likely to recover your phone if it's stolen. If they do, and you've registered your phone, the police can reunite you with your phone. Using Immobilise to register other possessionsImmobilise.com is a free service that allows you to record the details of as many of your possessions as you wish on a secure, offsite inventory. If you wish you can upgrade your free account and add photographs and certificates of ownership.
It is the largest service of its type with over 15 million registered users, 22 million items registered, and over 16 million stolen items recorded.
The recorded information can help you after loss, theft or fire when completing insurance claims, report stolen or lost property to the police and mobile phone networks. Lost or stolen propertyIf you have been subject to a criminal act report it to the police. For Derbyshire police, dial 0345 123 33 33.
If you have created an Immobilise account and your property is then lost or stolen, you can also log into your Immobilise account and use the report facility. If the item is a mobile phone, report it to your network as well. The network can turn off the SIM card and the phone.
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