Nottinghamshire Police urge young people to be vigilant after spate of mobile phone thefts

Police are urging young people to be vigilant and never give strangers access to their mobile phones following a spate of thefts.

Detectives are investigating a number of incidents, particularly in Nottingham city centre, where students had their phones taken from them or were persuaded to hand devices over in the street.

In one recent incident, a victim was talked into handing over his phone after being approached by two men.

One of the offenders then walked off with the device and the victim was assaulted when he protested.

In another incident a young man had his phone snatched from his hand as he left a nightclub.

Detective Inspector Julian Eminson-Ferry, said: “A team of detectives is working hard to investigate these incidents and find those responsible.

“We are making use of the city centre’s CCTV coverage and carrying out other local inquiries.

“However, we also know it is important to remind people to be vigilant when using their mobile phones while out and about or enjoying a night in the city.

“Having your phone stolen is an upsetting experience and people are reliant on their devices for work and their everyday life.

“We don’t want this to happen to anyone else, so we’d urge people to follow some simple but effective tips to mitigate the risks of them falling victim to crime.

“We’d also ask people to report any suspicious behaviour to us directly, or door and venue staff to ensure we can act upon it.”

Students are encouraged to adhere to the following crime prevention tips:

• When possible keep your phone out of sight in public areas.

• Try to ensure a password or pin code lock is enabled on your phone.

• When you leave a table/area, even for a short time, always take your phone with you. Never leave it unattended.

• If a stranger asks to use your phone, don't hand your device over to them. Instead, action any request you’re happy to facilitate yourself (for example, entering a number into your phone or making a phone call on the person’s behalf).

• Always stay alert when using your mobile phone and be aware of your surroundings.

• If you lose or have your phone stolen, call your network provider and get the phone blocked as soon as possible.

• Set up a tracking app on your phone so you can see where it is from another device in the event of it being lost or stolen. The iPhone has find my phone, and for android phones there is android device manager.

Victims can report a stolen phone by calling 101 or in an emergency call 999.