Mobile phone crime is a real and growing concern
for thousands. The disturbing trend has been rising for some years.
"As many as 10,000 mobile phones are stolen every month. Two
thirds of the victims are aged between 13 and 16. Many phones are
also stolen from unattended cars. Here are some practical measures
you can take to keep your mobile phone safe."
Metropolitan Police Website -
www.met.police.uk/crimeprevention/phone.htm
"Mobile phone thefts account for a more than a quarter of all
street crime in London"
mobile phone crime uk
"Every year in the UK hundreds of thousands of phones are stolen.
It sounds unbelievable, but it's true: in 2000/1, the estimated number
of mobile phone thefts was 710,000. Over the same period, 28% of all
robberies involved a mobile phone. These are disturbing statistics."
Immobilise.com -
www.immobilise.com - mobile phone crime
Mobile phone crime is clearly a serious problem. Phone theft is what
drives many people to get their phone insured in the first place -
they cost a lot of money to replace. This is why mobile phone insurance
companies exist.
Yet many insurance companies seem to thrive off the crime statistics,
in order to sell their insurance policies. It is worth noting that
loss is a key factor behind the crime figures;
Because many insurance policies do not cover loss, when a customer
loses their phone, they commit fraud by claiming it was 'stolen',
thereby increasing the figures for 'phone crime'. Read an article
about
phone loss here
This is why it is important to know whether your phone is protected
against loss.
Loss is one of the key factors why the 2U insurance is rated so highly
Stolen.
"The Home Office advises mobile phone owners to register their
phone with their network operator to make barring [your stolen mobile
phone] easier. They should also make a note of their IMEI number and
keep it in a safe place separate from their phone."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/mobile/
IMEI numbers can be accessed by keying *#06# into most mobiles or
by looking behind the battery.
To report a stolen mobile phone, call:
· Orange: 07973 100150 (contract) or 07973 100451 (pre-pay)
· Vodafone: 07836 191191 (contract) or 08700 776655 (pre-pay)
· O2: 08705 214000 (contract) or 08705 678678 (pre-pay)
· T-Mobile: 0845 412 5000
· Virgin Mobile: 0845 6000 789
Obviously, the right insurance policy will protect you from a huge
replacement bill.
