Protect yourself from mobile phone thefts

Adapted from Police UK and other sources

Your mobile phone is valuable, either for itself or (often sent to be sold abroad) or for access to your data (thieves can quite easily access your accounts in minutes).

Bike and mopeds snatches are common, particularly at busy locations such as outside stations, shopping centres or concert venues. Often victims are approached from behind while talking or texting on phones. Criminals on mopeds or bicycles may mount the pavement to grab the phone or snatch it from the road. Sometimes when it’s a moped, a pillion passenger will snatch it.

While most thefts happen between six and ten at night, criminals commonly operate during the day too, so always look out for what’s going on around you. Follow these simple steps to help protect your phone.

Best, keep your phone hidden and don’t use it on the street.

BE AWARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS

• If you need to call or use your phone on the street, look out for anyone on a bike or a moped near you. Look up, look out
• Make it quick so you don’t become distracted
• Don’t text while you’re walking – you won’t notice what’s going on around you
• If that’s not possible, stand away from the roadside, close to a building or wall, so no one can come up behind you
• Going hands-free can prevent a thief from snatching your phone out of your hand

USE SECURITY FEATURES ION YOUR PHONE

• You must switch on your phone’s security features to protect your phone
• Use the keypad lock so that thieves cannot immediately access your phone.
• Set a complex, hard to guess PIN
• Use MFA; Multi-Factor Authentication eg the phone requires another code, maybe from an authentication app. when logging into banking apps. etc. 
•  Use the biometric authentication if your phone has it (finger print or facial recognition)
• Your phone may have other security features you can use – these could allow you to wipe data, lock your handset, or prevent a thief from restoring a phone to its factory settings from another internet device
• Consider installing an anti-theft app. These can be an effective way of helping police trace your phone and identify the thief
• Back up your data so you don’t lose everything if the phone goes (those family photos etc may be irreplaceable).

BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY YOUR PHONE IN CASE IT IS STOLEN

• Find your IMEI number by dialling *#06# from your phone and keep a written note of it; if the phone is stolen, report the number to your mobile provider to stop it being used  (Every phone has an IMEI number which helps police and insurance companies to identify it if it’s stolen. UK network operators can also stop a stolen phone from working across their networks with its IMEI)
• Register your valuables on an accredited property database or with your insurance company.
• Only download apps. or other software from trusted sources such as official Google Play or Apple App. stores.
• Use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) when connecting to unsecured public wi-fi and hot-spots -thieves can eavesdrop on your phone activity
• Turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not using it adds a little more security (and saves battery!)
• Do not  click on links from uncertain sources or with vague instructions like ‘click here for special deals!’
• Never give anyone your passwords or account details , even if it seems like your bank or other official is requesting them
• Subscribe to an anti-virus service to avoid malicious code being loaded onto your phone

Remember, never confront a thief or risk your own safety for the sake of your mobile phone – let it go (they may be armed).