What you should do if your mobile phone is stolen

Street crime is on the rise in Pakistan. Thieves have become so brazen that they can calmly walk up to an individual and demand the victim's mobile phone from them in open air cafes, shopping centres and other public spaces.

Imagine you're enjoying a drink in what you assumed was a safe public space, when all of a sudden you're confronted by a thief who snatches your phone from you. The anxiety of what might happen to your personal information and contact may consume you.

Here are some practical measures to take if your phone is snatched.

Immediately have your phone blocked:

When your phone has been snatched you should contact your mobile network agency immediately and have your sim card blocked so that the phone is rendered useless to the perpetrators. You can go to the phone company’s website to see who you can contact to get your phone blocked. You can also have your phone blocked through its International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. You can find this code in your mobile device. Once found you should jot down this number as a security measure.

Change your passwords:

If you are a victim of phone-snatching then your personal information such as bank details and email information may be compromised. Passwords pertaining to online banking, social media and your email should be changed swiftly. Inform your bank so that they can block their online banking app on your phone. This will bar the thief or thieves from stealing from you and they will not be able to access your account through third party sources either.

Inform police:

File a complaint at the nearest police station. After you have informed them of the situation at hand they can alert others about mobile snatchers. The complaint will also suffice as proof which you may need to show your bank and mobile network company. The police know of areas where mobile snatches are on the rise, so they can start their investigation.

Notify your friends and family:

When a mobile is snatched not only is the victim's information compromised but their friends and relatives are also at risk of having their personal information compromised. The perpetrators could scam your loved ones via email or free messaging apps. Having alerted your loved ones, they can block your number or be more careful when receiving messages from your mobile number of your social media accounts.