In the age of high technology, everyone, 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.
In the age of high technology, everyone, 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 keep it safe. 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 target for criminals. In most cases, the main reason for mobile phone theft 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 people to reach their homes, and as a result, some fall asleep on benches, in courtyards, and other places not very conducive to sleep. In just 6 months of 2018, 5 mobile phone thefts were committed in the Lepel district (1 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 belongings unattended. Remember that shops, company offices, bars, and buses are public places; citizens have unrestricted access to these places, and by leaving your mobile phone, wallet, bank card, etc., there, you risk not finding them there, even if you return for them after a short time;
- do not hand over your phone to strangers or unfamiliar people asking to make a call or look at it;
- purchase mobile phones only from specialized stores, do not buy phones "second-hand" from unknown individuals, as it may turn out to be stolen. When purchasing a phone, you should subsequently keep the documents and warranty card. 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 your mobile phone to vibrate mode and disable bright light effects.
Children often fall victim to malicious individuals. They frequently walk down the street with music playing on their phones, thus displaying them. This can provoke thieves and teenagers from disadvantaged families into an easy way of acquiring someone else's phone. They might simply snatch it from a child's hand. A similar situation can occur at school when pupils show off their phones to others, often using them for games and listening to music, and sometimes, without even noticing, leave them behind in classrooms.
To prevent mobile phone theft, children and teenagers should either leave their phones at home or carry them in bags and backpacks. Parents should refrain from buying expensive phones for their children or, before purchasing, have a serious conversation with the child about the phone's purpose, its cost, and the risks of theft and loss. In the event that the phone cannot be recovered and has been stolen, it is necessary to immediately contact the police at the place where the crime occurred. However, before reporting a stolen mobile phone, citizens must be thoroughly convinced that the phone has indeed been stolen and not lost.
Head of the Public Security Police Department of Lepel District Department of Internal Affairs
Police Lieutenant Colonel I.A. Mikhno