Phone Safety Awareness: Stay Alert Remember, your phone is less valuable than your safety, if you are challenged hand over your phone. Crime Survey data estimates more than 200 snatch thefts every day on streets across England and Wales, the highest rate in more than a decade, and almost 60 per cent higher than the annual average since 2012 to 2013. The hotspots for this type of crime in Wandsworth are Nine Elms and Shaftesbury & Queenstown. Be aware of your surroundings:Don’t text while walking, you won’t notice what’s going on around you.When making phone calls, firstly look out for anyone on a bike or moped near you.Keep all valuables out of sight.Don’t walk along the street holding your phone.Go hands free using Bluetooth devices to deter people from snatching your phone out of your hand. How can I protect myself from phone snatchers? Well, here are a list of techniques to help keep you and your phone safe. Secure your phone: use the security features available on your mobile phone. Choose a strong PIN, passcode or finger pattern to unlock your phone.Get your IMEI number: your IMEI number is unique to your phone. It serves as a digital fingerprint for your phone, helping to identify it individually. The IMEI can help track the phone down if it is lost or stolen. Get your IMEI number simply by typing *#06# on your phone keypad. Keep a note of it somewhere safe other than on your phone. Use a phone tracking app: Set up a tracking app on your phone to see where your device is always, even when your phone is turned off.Turn off message previews: so that thieves won’t see any messages about resets or login codes. Do not use the same passwords on your phone: use different passwords for different applications.Never use banking apps on the street: be mindful of who can see when you enter your passcode.What do I do if my phone is stolen?Report the theft once safe, as soon as possible, call 101 or visit www.met.police.uk and click Report, in an emergency always call 999.If you have it, provide your phone’s IMEI number.Inform your bank to instruct them to freeze your accounts.Inform your network provider and ask them to block your eSIM.Use tracking app and give this information to the police.Change all passwords on all your accounts as soon as possible. | 
