MOBILE SECURITY

Every year in the UK alone hundreds of thousands of phones are stolen. It sounds unbelievable, but it's true: in 2003/4, the estimated number of mobile phone thefts was 810,000. Over the same period, 28% of all robberies involved a mobile phone. These are disturbing statistics.

So what can you do to help protect yourself and your mobile. Bignokias recommends you follow the advice below in order to reduce the risk of mobile phone theft.

Only use your Mobile Phone in areas where there are other people. Avoid taking secluded short cuts.

It doesn't’t pay to advertise the fact you have a mobile phone on your person. Keep your Mobile Phone out of sight were possible.

Try to always keep your mobile phone with you, if that is not possible then set your phone to silent when you have to leave it for any reason, that way if you get a call whilst your away from your desk and your phone is in your jacket pocket / desk draw it wont attract attention from would be thieves if you should receive a call in your absence.

Phones have a unique IMEI number, key in *#06# to find yours, record it, and keep it safe. If your phone is lost or stolen you can give this number to your provider who can then cut the phone off making it unusable.

Give your mobile it's own PIN number that is unique to you, change it when you first get the phone from the manufactures default pin number.

Only unlock the phone when you need to use it. You may need to consult your mobile phone manual to find out how to change your pin number.

Property mark your phone with your postcode and door number to help police identify stolen mobiles, you can do this on the underside of the batteries so as not to mark your mobile case externally.

Report a lost or stolen phone to the police immediately and contact your service provider, they will ask for your ime number so they can deactivate the phone.

If your phone as bluetooth then consider getting a bluetooth headset. You can then answer your mobile and make calls (providing your mobile as voice activating call feature) without you getting your mobile out of your pocket.