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Mobile Phones

You've got the latest phone with all the lushest new features: high quality megapixel camera, video calling, MP3 player, FM radio, mobile TV, 3G, Bluetooth, Internet; and you're really wanting to show it off. Everybody says it's so cool. So you're sitting on the bus and playing your tunes on full volume speaker (much to the annoyance of pretty much all the adults around you, but that's another story...) and then suddenly this group of thugs thunders up the stairs, sees you with your phone and they come over...

What happens next? Well you can probably guess. After a few insults and protests, they smack you upside the head and nick your precious phone. Could you have prevented this situation? Well, duh!

Mobile phones are a target for street robbers and pickpockets in the Borough and the majority of victims are teenagers. Robberies can also often start as bullying and progress from there.

Prevent loss and theft

For a couple of tips on keeping your phone out of the hands of thieves, take a look at this acrostic mnemonic (a what? Basically it's a bunch of sentences where the first letter of each sentence spells out MOBILE PHONE to help you remember. Clever isn't it?).

• Make sure you keep your phone on you. Don't get into the habit of setting it down, e.g. on a shop counter.
• Out of sight is safer. Don't leave your mobile in view, clipped to your belt, or on top of a shopping bag.
• Be aware of your surroundings when using your phone, who’s watching you?
• Immediately notify the police and ask your service provider to block both the sim and handset if it's lost or stolen.
• Let your phone's security features operate - e.g. turn on PIN protection.
• Evade theives by switching your phone to vibrate in circumstances where a ringtone may attract attention.

• Phones have a unique IMEI number, key in *#06# to find yours, record it, and keep it safe.
• Have a PIN number that is unique to you, change it when you first get the phone.
• Only travel in areas where there are other people. Avoid taking secluded shortcuts.
• Never Leave your phone unattended in a car.
• Every time you finish using the phone lock the keys, this helps reduce accidental calls.

Register your phone

You can register your phone's details for free with Immobilise, so that if it's ever stolen or lost, then it appears on the national police stolen property databse. This makes it harder for theives to flog your phone, and increases the chances they are reported to the police. In some cases, your stolen or lost phone could be traced back and returned to you.