Nearly 8,000 mobile phones were reported stolen in Dublin for the first 6 months of 2012. That is according to the Gardai who have joined forces with Dublin City Council to publish a leaflet to help you avoid having your phone snatched and what to do if it happens.
They want you to keep a note of your IMEI number which is a 15-digit number unique to your phone. To get it input *#06# into the phone and take a note of the number that appears.
The Council says the theft of smart phones has increased significantly in Dublin with statistics showing that over 1,000 mobiles have been stolen in the city centre so far this year.
The Dublin City Joint Policing Committee is a forum consisting of councillors, TDs, Senators, Gardai, council officials and representatives from the community and business sector. Its focus is to develop "an integrated approach to policing and safety in the city".
Four issues have been selected for its attention:
- Burglaries in the Home
- Theft of Mobile Phones
- Night time economy issues
- Public disorder
The Committee will today publish the information leaflet on the theft of smart phones.
The Chairperson of the Committee Councillor Gerry Breen said "Stories of stolen smart phones abound and the ordeal for victims is considerable". "The theft often happens in broad daylight when people are walking along the street using a smart phone. In discussions with Gardai on to get greater awareness on this high impact crime, I have asked them to target those criminal elements that may be making a lucrative trade from stolen smart phones" he added.
Chief Superintendent Michael O'Sullivan is from Pearse Street Garda Station "Analysis of crime trends in 2012 indicates that a mere 15% of mobile phone owners had their IMEI number available when reporting the theft incident". "Operation Aughrim was initiated in the Dublin Metropolitan Region in an effort to prevent and detect the commission of mobile phone related offences and in an effort to restore recovered mobile phones to their rightful owners".
Chief Superintendent O'Sullivan says knowing the IMEI number is important to getting your phone back or having it blocked.
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