Dear LPG readers,

I recently watched a television news broadcast about how easily your mobile phone can be snatched as you walk down the street. 

The irony is that I am one of the many pensioners who only thought of buying one once I found myself locked down. Having all that time to learn how to use my mobile phone, even though I can still only do a few things with it, reminds me how much I would be upset if mine were stolen.

Firstly, there is the phone itself. Most cheaper smartphones will likely cost a lot more than £100, even though a monthly contract can make having one appear less expensive. However, so much more would be lost if your phone was stolen.

We use them instead of phone books these days, and those numbers we kept in our heads or an address book would be gone with the phone if we no longer had it.  If you have a phone contract, some of the data would be stored, but there are so many ways that you can add a number to your phone, and if you choose to put it in the phone’s memory as opposed to on the sim card or with Google it might not be available to you even if you replace the phone. 

Then, we get all the messages. The ones that remind us of doctors and hospital appointments arrive thick and fast as we age. I would be devastated if I lost all the pictures and little videos my family has sent me. That is the tip of the iceberg regarding what we store on our phones. 

From what I have seen, the news reports imply that the thieves who use scooters and bikes to steal them usually appear to target executives who will have the more expensive phones, but we all need to be aware. 

Sadly, one of the best things about having a mobile phone is that you can be contacted anytime and talking to a friend while walking down the road or waiting for a bus has become a classic way of constructive multitasking. Nowadays, when so many people you need to talk to (especially those who have yet to be retired) are often so busy, it can be hard to be available at just the same time as that person.  

So, being able to do that while simultaneously walking down to the shops has become one of the perks of having one. 

However, we need to be aware of where we are and what is around us when using them.  Walking and talking will limit your awareness of what is happening around you.   One answer to being able to use it without having it on display is to wear a Bluetooth earpiece.  You might look as if you are trying to appear hi-tech, and joining all those who look as if they are talking to themselves might not appeal, but your phone cannot be snatched if it cannot be seen. 

I remember reading an LPG article about the advantages of knowing your IMEI number, which might be worth looking at again  (►►►).  It might also be worth having a tracking app that will allow you to know where your phone is even if you are not with it.  

Keeping your phone attached to you and out of sight is also recommended to be safe.  Keeping it attached to you with one of those lanyards, a bag, having it in your pocket, or a small bum bag is always a good idea for making sure you have it when you need it. While the tracking can sound like an invasion of privacy, you have to think of the advantages of having a close relative or friend’s phone to pinpoint where you are if you fall ill, get lost or lose your phone. 

One other thing to be aware of is using public wi-fi.  For those who do not have internet built into their phones, it will be tempting to use the internet provided in public places such as  coffee shops, banks, train stations or airports. Still, we need to remember that what you do online when using it could be tracked by others using the same network at the time, including the passwords you are using.  So, it is better not to check personal material such as your online bank information.  

Other things can be done, and while all this theft is happening, it might be worth talking with one of your I T-savvy family members or someone who knows a bit more about what you can do to protect your little electronic wonder…   

GM. Beckenham.

GM has found some related information, including a few eye-opening videos showing how quickly phone loss can become a reality…

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