Last year one million mobile phones were stolen in the UK.

A rise in young people carrying expensive goods like mobile phones, MP3 players, laptops and digital cameras has meant that nearly half of these victims were aged between 12 and 16.

There are some basic steps you can take to protect you and your phone:

• Encourage your friends and family to register their phones on the Immobilise web site.
• Consider marking your mobile with an ultra-violet pen. Putting your house or flat number (or the first two letters of your house name) and your postcode on the phone will provide a simple and unique way of identifying it.
• Keep your mobile on you but out of sight. Don't advertise your mobile phone to a thief.
• Never put your mobile down in a public place or leave it unattended.
• Avoid using your phone in crowds and be aware of pickpockets. Don't make it easy for them.
• Never give your mobile phone to strangers who ask to use, look at or borrow it.
• Switch your phone to vibrate in circumstances where a ring tone might attract unwanted attention.
• Use your phone pin code function.
• Don't leave your phone on display in an unattended vehicle. 50% of all mobile thefts are from vehicles!
• If you purchase a phone off a friend do you know where it originally came from? Don't leave yourself open to handling stolen goods! For a small fee you can check before you buy using www.checkmend.com
• If your mobile phone is stolen, report it to the police then contact your service provider and ask them to block your handset and SIM. To do this you will need your IMEI number. The number is under the battery or key in *#06#. The number will be between 15 and 17 digits long. Make a note of it just in case!

To find out more about keeping your mobile safe visit:

www.outofyourhands.com