Why should you be aware of smart phone thieves? Because their activities are astonishingly prevalent–and the number is growing. In New York, for example, USA Today reports that 40% of all thefts are smart phone thefts. In San Francisco, it’s half of all thefts. It’s a little less in Los Angeles—just over a quarter of all thefts—but that’s a doubling over the year-prior figure.
Consumer Reports indicates that more than 13 million smart phones were stolen in 2013 (the last year for which statistics are available), more than twice the n
umber the year before.
Overall, 1 out of 10 smart phone users have been victimized by smart phone thieves. Nearly 70% never get their phones back
Moreover, they are literally being stolen out of their user’s hands—sometimes as they are talking. USA Today quotes a police official as saying that smart phone theft is the “modern day purse snatching.”
Like a purse, a smart phone is right in front of the thief—and the activities of user and smart phone, like texting or talking, are the very activities that make a potential victim distracted.
Distracted enough to have the phone grabbed out of their hands.
It’s easy to see what makes smart phones attractive to thieves. They carry an incredible amount of personal data—bank account records, financial records, credit card data. They can be used to break into these accounts. They can be used for identity theft. Finally, they can be sold on the street for cash or exchanged for drugs, according to USA Today.
The best way to protect yourself is vigilance. Be aware of this epidemic and protect your smart phone as you would cash. Pay attention to your surroundings when using it. Be aware that public transportation is a frequent site of smart phone thefts. Never leave it visible in a car.
Report any theft to your financial institution and the police immediately. Change all your passwords. Finally, it’s a good idea to install programs that will find your phone if it is lost or stolen.
