New modus operandi in cellphone snatching
MONTGOMERY PARK – To a criminal, your mobile phone is not just a communications device. To a thief or robber, your phone is easy money.
Residents were taken aback by a horrific cellphone theft incident on 15 January.
A Roosevelt High pupil was robbed and dragged in a moving car for 70 metres for his cellphone.
Ward 87 councillor Amanda Forsythe appeals to parents to equip their children with safety tips.
“Parents should warn their children that they should be careful about flashing their cellphones and other valuables in public. There are unfortunately so many opportunistic criminals out there just looking for easy targets.”
According to Forsythe, the same applies to people sitting on the sidewalk outside restaurants and cafés talking on their phones or working on their computers.
“The new modus operandi is criminals in a car who pull up, grab your phone or computer and speed off,” she said.
Cellphone safety tips:
- Conceal what a crook wants to steal: do not walk in public talking on your phone, texting or even openly carrying the device.
- If you must be on the phone, be aware of your surroundings and of other people nearby.
- Do not wear earbuds while on the street. In particular, white iPhone or iPad earbuds suggest you are carrying an Apple product, which may target you as a potential high-value victim.
- Do not allow strangers to “borrow” your phone or other electronic devices.
- Keep records of your phone, including the make and model, colour and appearance, pin or security lock code, and the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number for phones.
- Add a security mark: print your post code or house number onto both your phone and battery so that you can identify them easily.
- Ensure that your cell phone is password protected.
- Do not store personal or financial information on your phone. If it is stolen, it is not difficult for criminals to extract information before wiping the phone’s memory and reselling the device.
- Activate the global positioning system tracking option on your phone. If the phone does not have GPS tracking, consider after-market software. For instance, there is a free ‘Find my iPhone’ app available from Apple.
