http://digbig.com/4mdyk
David Fickling
More than 2m mobile phones are stolen in the UK each year, and according to recent figures the number pinched has gone up 8% over the past year. How can you avoid becoming part of the statistic? The figures have prompted the networks to institute new security measures but before you do anything, you should register your phone at immobilise.com, a cross-industry initiative that allows you to record details of all manner of nickable stuff online.
If items registered on the site get stolen you can alert police forces and second-hand traders at the touch of a button, and a quick phone call will immobilise the handset instantly.
If you've already had your phone nicked and it wasn't registered on the site, you should head for the Central Equipment Identity Register, an initiative run by the police's mobile phone crime unit. For this you'll need your IMEI number, a number that identifies your handset and can be communicated over the mobile network to lock your phone if you've lost it. Type *#06# into your phone and it should show the IMEI: write it down in a safe place." [Top Tips]
