Avoid the misery of having your expensive phone and personal data stolen altogether by following our tips
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Tip 1 – Keep your smartphone on you
This may sound obvious, but your phone is most likely to be stolen when it’s left unattende, so don’t leave your phone out on a table or place it on the bar while ordering – it only takes a second for it to disappear.
Pickpocketing is also a big factor, make sure thieves don’t catch a glimpse of your handset, dont let this stop using your phone altogether, but try from keeping it out unnecessarily.
Tip 2 – Don’t wear flashy headphones
Flashy headphones show you have an expensive phone to go with it, so try not to use anything that looks too expensive; otherwise you may attract the attention of thieves.
Tip 3 – Be Very careful when someone asks you for the time or to borrow your phone
Thieves may ask for the time to get a look at your phone and decide if it’s worth stealing..
Use a watch to give the time instead, or say you don’t know. If someone asks you to use your phone tell them you’ve got no battery left.
Tip 4 – Have tracking, locking and erasing features switched on
Tracking, locking and erasing data features are a big deterrent for criminals, so you should make use of all these apps.
Having these options switched on means that you’ll have a chance to block the phone completely from a remote computer or stop it from functioning altogether so that they can’t sell it on.
Tip 5 – Watch out on public transport
Public transport is the most popular place to be targeted. A study in 2012/13 found that 37% of thefts happened on public transport, while 30% happened in bars and clubs.
When on public transport ensure your phone, and all your possessions are kept close, keeping your phone zipped up.
Tip 6 – Don’t text and walk together
When you’re busy on your phone, looking down at the screen, you’re unlikely to see a theif.
They’ll also be able to get away quickly while you’re still figuring out what just happened. It’s better to stop and message someone discretely.
Tip 7 – Go hands-free
If you wear a Bluetooth headset or headphones with a microphone, you can keep your phone tucked out of sight. That way no one can see which phone you have and they won’t be able to make a grab for it either.
