Shoppers warned over rise in theft of mobile phones

THIEVES steal more mobile phones at Christmas than at any time of the year, shoppers were warned yesterday.

With latest figures showing that more than 3.5 million people own a mobile phone, the market for stolen handsets is also on the rise.

Although official figures are not available, the Irish Cellular Industry Association (ICIA) estimates that tens of thousands of handsets are stolen or lost each year.

With shops, streets and bars busier than ever around this time, the association has warned people to be extra vigilant.

“People tend to leave their phones on counters or tables in pubs or maybe sticking out of their pocket in shops and we would encourage them to be a bit more careful,” said ICIA director Tommy McCabe.

“There have also, unfortunately, been incidents of people being assaulted at day and night by attackers after their phones,” he said.

While some of these incidents are unavoidable, the ICIA - representing phone operators Meteor, O2 and Vodafone and manufacturers Nokia and Siemens - also advises on how to make sure any phone can be rendered useless if stolen.

By recording the international mobile equipment identification number (IMEI), it is simple for a phone to be deactivated by contacting your mobile phone operator.

The number is inside the battery of all phones but can also be found by typing *#06# into your phone, which will call up the 15-digit number on the screen.

The GSM Association, an international group of mobile phone operators, has a central database to counteract theft. All phones registered as stolen here are added, making them inoperable in most of Europe and many other countries.

With the regular upgrading of phones, the encouraging news for owners of more expensive handsets is they are not necessarily more at risk.

“Thieves are not too particular about what they will steal, but are more likely to be guided by opportunity, and simply take a phone if they see a chance,” Mr McCabe said.

For parents of children with mobile phones, or for those considering buying one as a Christmas present, an ICIA booklet is available to inform them of key safety tips.

The Knowledge: A Parents’ Guide to Mobile Phones can be found on the websites of Irish mobile phone companies or at www.icia.ie