When there was an attempt on my phone back in July of 2011, I wrote a post on this site and predicted this problem could escalate, and it has.
Young people influenced by trends are after the objects of their desire, smartphones. Prices and plans are expensive and they can resell the units at high prices at flea markets and on urban street corners.
Until there are universal stolen phone tracking services like “Find my iPhone” this problem will grow.
The biggest problem with this wave of muggings is that they are accompanied by physical violence and menace. Some users have gotten punched and kicked, hit by sticks and pipes and become victims of identity theft afterwards.
In San Francisco Police and local law enforcement authorities are very aware of the prevalence of this problem however after setting up a few stings they seem to have no clear cut plan of attack or resolution.
When you bought you nice new phone you didn’t sign up to get punched in thefaceover it.
One twist that has cropped up is the high number of incidents taking place on public transportation. Users assume that they are somewhat safe and that other riders have their back. All ultimately sit back wide-eyed in wonder and amazement when agile phone thieves grab an unsuspecting rider’s phone and quickly bolt out the door and down the street.
Below are a few tips to avoid falling victim to muggers after your phone.
Advice:
- Be extra careful when and where you use your phone. Some neighborhoods and communities are far more vulnerable, andsome users makeeasy targets: elderly, disabled and package burdened shoppers need toi use good sense and remain ever vigilant and aware of their environment.
- If you have a nice in demand smartphone don’t flash it or talk loud and risk attracting unneeded attention.
- Be very aware of who is approaching you too closely
- Stay out of densely packed crowds. Pickpockets are always serching out promising victims.
- Implement paasword protection and encryption on your phone to protect and secure your personal data and information.
- Consider installing theft recovery and remote disabling software and apps to help recover your phone in case it gets lost or stolen.
- Never lay your phone down on tables or counters.