Whenever you see pictures of thieves in the newspapers, it never ceases to amaze how ordinary they look. Unfortunately, thieves do not wear striped shirts, with a black eye mask and carry a bag with `Swag` written all over it! That may sound a little condescending, but you would be surprised at how victims of petty theft never suspect those people around them in shops, cafes or the pub.

Here are some scary statistics:-
2% of UK mobile phone owners reported them stolen last year
That figure is a lot higher amongst teenagers
228 mobile phones are reported stolen every hour!

Obviously people take out mobile phone insurance to cover this eventuality, but the Government is launching a phone owner awareness campaign aimed at reducing this figure.

Favourite amongst thieves are the women who insist on having their phone in an open handbag, easy to steal without being noticed. However, a growing trend is for mums with buggies to put the phone in the folded canopy near the buggy handle. Yes, it is convenient when it rings, but it is an open invitation to be stolen.

Having anything stolen is a traumatic experience, and people interviewed later have expressed feelings of violation. However, with a mobile phone loss, it is also the loss of contacts that is a worry, or that someone is using your mobile phone and racking up a huge bill.

It is important therefore that owners firstly take sensible precautions to protect their handsets by keeping them on your person at all times in a concealed place.

Furthermore, when you take out mobile phone insurance, ensure that things like storage of your contacts are included in your policy. Better still; consult an expert to ensure that it is only your cover that is a steal!