< Previous	Home
Why do I need to be streetwise? You may not know that a mobile phone is stolen around every five minutes in the UK, and most of the people who have them stolen are aged 13-16! If you have your own mobile phone, I'm sure you'll want to keep it safe, so it pays to stay streetwise. If the worst does happen and someone threatens you for your phone, just give it to them! Your safety is your number one priority! Try and take a mental note of what they look like and which way they ran off, then ring the police ASAP! However, by taking a few simple precautions, you can protect your phone and valuable belongings. ALWAYS keep your phone out of sight in a public place. If you're in a busy area, it's also a good idea to switch your ringtone to vibrate. It's not a good idea to walk and text, but if you need to use your phone in a busy place, try to go into a shop or somewhere safe, and try to stay aware of what's going on around you. Trust your instincts. AVOID walking alone after dark and NEVER use your phone in dark or isolated areas, ALWAYS stick to well lit routes and not be tempted by shortcuts, especially if they are in dark, wasteland or bushy areas. If you think you might be being followed by someone, cross over the road and see if they follow. If they cross over as well then cross back and check again. If you still feel uncomfortable then go straight to the nearest public place where other people are around and dial 999. A good idea is to make a note of your phone's IMEI number. If you key *#06# into your mobile, a 15 digit number will appear. Try it! This is a unique identifier for your handset, so it is useful to have if you need to report your phone stolen. Most phones also give you an option to protect your SIM card with a pin number. This way, if your phone falls into the wrong hands it is unlikely they can access your phone numbers, texts or use any credit.