Bid to curb theft of mobile phones

MOBILE PHONE firms are beefing up security measures to deal with the rising number of thefts.

Mobile operator 02 says that customers reported 24,000 phones lost or stolen last year. While Vodafone and Meteor do not have specific theft figures, Garda sources estimate that more than 60% of personal items stolen include mobile phones.

Vodafone is preparing an anti-theft database before its multi-media messaging phones which allow phones to send picture messages go on sale at Christmas. Each phone has its own security serial number, known as the International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI). If a phone is stolen, the mobile phone operator can use the number to turn off the phone, rendering it useless to the thief. All IMEI numbers are stored in a company's database, so thieves cannot use the phone by inserting a new SIM card.