Prevention of mobile phone theft

In the age of high technology, every person, even a small child, knows how to use a mobile phone.

In the age of high technology, every person, even a small child, knows how to use a mobile phone. Currently, it is no longer a luxury item, as it was about 15 years ago, but a completely ordinary phenomenon. Moreover, it is so ordinary that we often forget that it is our personal property and we are obliged to take measures to preserve it. We no longer pay attention to whether we take it with us, whether we put it in our clothes pocket or in a bag after talking with relatives, friends, or simply acquaintances. In this regard, a mobile phone becomes an increasingly easy prey for a criminal. In most cases, the main reason for the theft of mobile phones is precisely the carelessness of the phone owners themselves. Most of these thefts are committed after drinking alcoholic beverages. Often, "the green serpent" does not allow one to get home, and as a result, some fall asleep on benches, in courtyards of houses, and other places not very pleasant for sleeping. In just 3 months of 2018, 2 mobile phone thefts were committed in the Lepel district (2 in 2017).

To reduce the likelihood of being left without your phone, you need to remember simple rules:

- When in any public place, never leave your property unattended. Remember that shops, company offices, bars, and buses are public places; access for citizens to these places is unlimited, and by leaving a mobile phone, wallet, bank card, etc. in them, you risk not finding them there, even if you return for them shortly after;
- do not hand over your phone to strangers or unfamiliar people asking to make a call or look at it;
- purchase mobile phones only in specialized stores, do not buy phones "off the street" from unknown citizens, as it may turn out to be stolen. When purchasing a phone, it is necessary to keep the documents and warranty card afterwards. In case of theft of a mobile phone, in order to solve the crime quickly, it is not recommended to block the SIM card in the stolen mobile phone;
- when carrying a phone in a bag, it is recommended to attach it with a chain to a strap or clasp, for example, using a small carabiner;
- to avoid attracting the attention of criminals in the dark, switch the mobile phone to vibrate, and turn off bright light effects.

Children often fall victim to criminals. They very frequently walk down the street with music playing on their phones, thus showing them off. This provokes thieves and teenagers from disadvantaged families into an easy way of acquiring someone else's phone. They will simply snatch it from the child's hands. The same situation can occur at school when pupils boast about their phones to others and, in most cases, use them for games and listening to music, and sometimes, without even noticing it themselves, leave them in classrooms.

To avoid mobile phone theft, children and teenagers should either leave their phones at home or carry them in bags and backpacks. Parents should not buy expensive phones for their children or, before purchasing, have a serious conversation with the child about the purpose of the phone, its price, and the risks of theft and loss. In the event that the loss could not be avoided and the phone was stolen, it is necessary to immediately contact the police at the place where the crime was committed. However, before filing a report of mobile phone theft, citizens must be thoroughly convinced that the phone was indeed stolen and not lost.

Head of the Public Security Police Department of the Lepel District Department of Internal Affairs
Police Lieutenant Colonel I.A. Mikhno