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Last Words
SENDING A MESSAGE ABOUT MOBILE PHONE THEFT
by Hertfordshire Constabulary
29/01/2003
For the whole of February Hertfordshire Constabulary is running a campaign to try to reduce the number of thefts of mobile phones, a figure that has been increasing year on year.
The increase in the number of thefts reflects a huge rise in the number of mobile phone users but a proportion of reported thefts may not have even happened - and this may be because most mobile phone insurance covers for theft of a phone but not accidental loss.
Nationally, false reporting of mobile phone theft has led to problems of wasting police time on investigations and giving an unrealistic picture of crime. Some research has revealed that 15 per cent of reported street crime involving the theft of a mobile phone may never have actually happened.
Hertfordshire’s month-long campaign aims to ensure that only genuine thefts are recorded as crimes as well as issuing crime prevention advice as widely as possible to reduce the number of phones being stolen.
Hertfordshire Constabulary wishes to encourage the reporting of crime generally but could prosecute anyone who makes a false report of mobile phone theft (or indeed any crime).
Detective Chief Inspector, Keith Tilley, who is leading the campaign, said: “Anyone who reports a mobile phone theft during February will be asked to sign a document to say that they are reporting a genuine crime of theft. They will also be sent crime prevention advice to reduce the chances of losing their next phone.
“Most mobile phone companies offer phone barring for stolen handsets across networks.”
He added: “We want to encourage all mobile phone users to be streetwise to prevent their phones being stolen in the first place especially as 40 per cent of street crime involves the theft of mobile phones.”
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Be aware of your surroundings, be alert when you are out and about
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Avoid displaying your phone in public places
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Try to avoid using your phone in very crowded places such as pop concerts where it could be snatched
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Keep it with you at all times - never leave it unattended
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Security mark the phone and the battery
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Report a stolen phone to police and your network provider immediately
A nation-wide advertising campaign, being launched in February, is also targeting mobile phone theft. Advice being published warns thieves that stolen mobile handsets can be barred from all networks, thus rendered useless.
To get a stolen phone barred you need to:
1. Register your phone with your network provider.
2. Record your IMEI number and your phone number and keep these in a safe place separate from you phone. Your IMEI number (15 digit serial number) can be accessed by keying *#06# into most phones or by looking behind the battery of your phone.
Stolen phones can be reported [in the UK] on the following network providers’ contact numbers:
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Orange Contract 07973 100 150
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Orange Pre-pay 07973 100 451
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Vodaphone Contract 07836 191 191
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Vodaphone Pre-pay 08700 77 66 55
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O2 08705 214 000
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T-Mobile 0845 412 5000
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Virgin 0845 6000 789
Read the full article at Hertfordshire Constabulary
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