Guest Blogger: How To Keep Your Mobile Phone Safe

This article was written by Natalie Sabin, it maintains the theme of mobile phones and although the alledged answer phone hacking was thought to have occured via the remote voicemail system having your mobile stolen or losing it is a risk all of us with smartphones must be nervous of and any preventive action is something to bare in mind...

Mobile phone theft is a serious problem and smart phones are one of the most targeted items by thieves. Here are some ways to reduce the risk of you getting your mobile phone stolen.

Firstly, always be aware of your surroundings. It’s likely that your phone will be easier to steal when you are in a crowd or on a night out where there are lots of people. One swift grab and its gone forever! The more people there are, the more closely you should guard your phone.

Always be aware of where your phone is. If you’re not using it, keep it in the same place in your handbag or your pocket. Then if it does go missing, you know straight away that you do not have it. This could buy you crucial time if you have left it somewhere unattended.

Don’t advertise your phone to thieves, do not have it in view unless you are using it. Also never leave your phone in your car, it only takes a few seconds for someone to smash the window and take it.

When out to dinner or at a bar do not have your mobile phone on the table. It is too easy for someone to take it in passing if you don’t have your eye on it. Also, you are supposed to be enjoying yourself; leave your phone alone for 5 minutes!

If keeping your phone in a handbag make sure it is kept in an inner pocket where possible. Also keep your handbag securely closed so that a thief cannot just grab your phone when you’re not looking. Always keep your handbag next to you and in your view. All it takes is a turn of the head and a thief can get their hands in there and take your phone.

If you keep your phone in your pocket never keep it in your back pocket. It is too easy for someone to take it out without you noticing – some of these criminals have sinister skills as they do this all day everyday! If kept in your back pocket it is also easy for it to fall out when you sit down, leaving it vulnerable to opportunistic thieves. Keeping your phone in your back pocket can also damage the screen (this is from personal experience!).

Always use a pass code on your phone. In the unfortunate circumstances that your phone is stolen it will give you valuable time in order to get it immobilised so that it becomes useless to the thief – for a free immobilisation service register your mobile phone on http://www.immobilise.com/.

It is also advised that you insure your phone to make sure it’s covered in the event of a loss or theft (or if you keep it in your back pocket!) – visit mobile phone insurance to get cover for your phone.

Guest Blog by Natalie Sabin works in 'mobile phone insurance', she is an Information Science graduate with an interest in mobile communications and in harnessing the power of social media to reach all corners of the globe!