Gardaà are appealing for smartphone owners to be âStreetwiseâ by
downloading a trusted "find my phoneâ app and adding an emergency contact
number to their phone as of the â¬5m worth of mobile phones stolen, only 10%
are recovered.
The appeal follows the release of figures by the Garda SÃochána Analysis
Service which show that 11,488 mobile phones have been stolen since the
beginning of 2019. Of those, only 1,176 have been recovered.
Speaking at todayâs campaign launch Crime Prevention Officer for the Meath
Division, Sergeant Dean Kerins said, "The price of mobile phones makes them a
clear target for criminals, so letâs try and deter them by increasing phone
security. If you have a smartphone, we recommend downloading a trusted location
finder app so if it is lost or stolen, you have a better chance of getting it
back. Some phones already have a feature like this already so have a look in
the security settings on your phone.
"We also highly recommend that you add a family member or friend as an
emergency contact in your phone. If we receive a lost or stolen phone, we will
be able to contact that person. Our property stores throughout the country
receive a lot of stolen and lost phones that we cannot trace the owners for.
Adding the emergency contact will help solve this problem.
"Other preventative measures you can take include enabling the PIN Security
feature, keeping your phone locked at all times, and property-mark it with
unique personal letters or numbers.
"For those who do not own a smartphone, call *#06# on your keypad and note the
IMEI number that comes up. This is a 15 digit number that is unique to your
phone. If your phone is lost or stolen, call your service provider immediately
so they can block the phone.
"If you believe your phone has been stolen, you should call GardaÃ
immediately. Do not follow the person via your tracking appâ, warned Sergeant
Kerins.
The most common place for phones to be stolen is out in public or in a licensed
premises, so Gardaà are also advising the following:
· Be wary of your surroundings and mind your property.
· Plan your night out, how are you getting there and how are you
getting back?
· Avoid walking alone in dark places.
· Keep your phone out of public view.
· Donât leave your phone on display in a vehicle.
· Dial *#06# and save a screenshot of your IMEI number. Email the
image to yourself.
· Keep your phone locked and enable as much security features as you
can.
· Download or activate a trusted find my phone app.
· Add a relative or friend as an emergency contact in your phone.
In July of this year, whilst cycling the Gap of Dunloe in Co. Kerry, Valerie
Nohilly had her phone stolen. She left her backpack and bicycle on the roadside
as she took in some of the scenery. The opportunistic thief took her backpack
and was gone before Valerie returned. Luckily, Valerieâs son had helped her
install a tracking app on the phone and she was able to trace the phone to an
area of Portlaoise. She reported the matter to Gardaà in Kenmare who reviewed
CCTV from the area and liaised with Gardaà in Portlaoise. A possible suspect
was identified and he was arrested and brought before the courts. Valerieâs
phone was recovered during this search and returned.
Speaking today, Valerie said, "It was a great relief to be reunited with my
phone as it contained many photos and videos of happy times spent with my
family during the COVID lockdown, as well as all my contact numbers.
"I was astonished that my twelve-year-old son Tom had activated a tracking
device a few weeks earlier. Within one hour of the phone being taken, he used
my laptop to deactivate the phone and put a message on it asking whoever had it
to phone my husbandâs mobile number.
"We were so fortunate that the staff in Mace in Kenmare were kind enough to put
us in touch with Garda Seán Twomey who could not have been more helpful.
Thanks to his fast actions and those of the Gardaà in Portlaoise, I was
reunited with my phone less than 48 hours after it was taken.
"I am so grateful to everyone who helped to reunite me with my phone and would
recommend everyone to activate a tracking device on their phone.â
In this instance, Gardaà would have found it difficult to investigate the
theft because it occurred in such a rural location. The tracking app and the
quick actions of the woman was the key to the investigation.
Website:
https://www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/news-media/gardai-appeal-for-smartphone-owners-to-be-streetwise-.html
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