Mobile phones

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 around

If 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 you

If 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.

Securing your handset

It'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). 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. 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, reunite

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. 

Report

If your phone is lost or stolen, report it immediately to the police on 612612.

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.

Reunite

The 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 mobile.

Using Immobilise to register other possessions

Immobilise.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 and reporting stolen or lost property to the police and mobile phone networks.

Lost or stolen property

If you have been subject to a criminal act report it to the police.

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.

iPhone security

Find My iPhone is an Apple app which uses the AGPS device inside your iPhone to track it’s location in the event that it is lost or stolen.

In the event that your iPhone is lost or stolen, you can log into your account on your computer and it will display where your iPhone is, as long as it is turned on.