Want a new mobile phone? Get the best UK mobile deals on offer. With free phones, free minutes and airtime and free text messages.

Mobile Phone Offer

Keep your mobile phone safe

How to protect your mobile phone.

Being mugged for your mobile phone is sadly more common than we'd like. Particularly vulnerable are young people.

The general advice is don't use your mobile phone whilst walking about outside. It makes you vulnerable on two counts. Firstly, that you are not paying attention to what is going on around you, and secondly you are showing off probably one of the most expensive things on you. It is also really easy to grab a phone and run when you're holding it, rather than grabbing your phone when it's in a pocket or bag.

There are a few things you can do to ensure that your phone is safe.

The are a couple of things you can do to stop your phone being used if it gets stolen.

You need to do this first couple in advance

• Write down the IMEI number - International Mobile Equipment Identity is a number unique to every mobile phone. It is usually found printed on the phone underneath the battery and can also be found by dialing the sequence *#06# into the phone.
  Write it down and keep the piece of paper safe so you can report the phone stolen.
  The number can then be put into an ignore list so that the phone is unusable. This is a completely free way of helping cut down on phone theft. If everyone did this then mobile phones would not be worth stealing.
  Pass on this information to everyone you know. Maybe help your friends write down their IMEI number.
  
• Write your postcode and house number on the phone - or inside the battery compartment. This can help it get returned to you should the police find it. You can get UV marker pens either from the police, homewatch or shops.
  
• Get phone insurance. Some companies offer it when you take out a contract with them but check what the policy covers you for. Loss, theft, accidental damage, airtime abuse, european, holiday cover are all things you need to consider and look at before taking out a policy. You may be able to add the phone to your household insurance - ring them up and ask.