Young people are often the victims of mobile phone theft - a nationwide survey revealed that 14 to 17 year-olds are the age group most likely to be victims of street crimes such as mobile phone theft. There are a number of things that you can do to reduce the chance of this happening to you.

• Only make essential calls when you are in a busy area, you never know who is in the crowd and using the mobile only advertises the fact that you have one. Make calls in less public areas where you can watch what is going on around you while you talk.
• Try to use your phone's security lock code.
• Mobile phones are often stolen from open handbags, rucksacks, coat pockets or from within vehicles. Make sure that when not using your phone it is in a safe and secure location.
• Inform your service provider if your phone is lost/stolen as soon as possible.
• Security mark you phone with an ultra violet pen.
• Don't leave your mobile phone in full view in an unattended vehicle - if you must leave it in the car, lock it out of sight.

• Make a note of the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number which is unique to the phone handset. This can be done by you by putting in the following code into the phone *#06# (star, hash, zero, six, hash). If your handset is stolen, tell the Police the IMEI number, which they record and check against suspected stolen mobile phones.
  
  You can also register this number with the government website www.immobilise.com which enters the information into the National Mobile Phone Register.