When you're a victim of crime

Being a victim of crime can be a nasty, unsettling experience. So it's best to try and prevent it happening. Here's how to minimise the risk of being the victim of some common and high profile crimes.MOBILE PHONE CRIME

Protecting your phone

Hopefully you're reading this with your mobile phone tucked safely in your pocket. If so, here are some simple ways to foil any future theft, and avoid copping for the phone bill should the villain start using it.

• Write down the serial number: Every mobile phone is fitted with a SIM card that features a unique serial number - one that can be switched off' remotely by your service provider should it get nicked. The catch is you have to make a record of the serial number first. So tap in *#06# to bring up the details (usually 15 or 17 numbers), and write it down somewhere safe.
• Prime the phone lock: Most mobile phones feature password protection, so make full use of it. That way, if your phone is nicked, the thief will be faced with working through dozens of combinations... and may not be able to crack it at all.
• Register your mobile: www.immobilise.com is an online database supported by the mobile phone industry, the National Mobile Phone Crime Unit, the Metropolitan Police and other UK Police Forces, and the Home Office. You can register your mobile phone so that If it's stolen or found the owner can be identified from the database.

Dealing with a theft:

• Call your phone service provider: Report the theft as soon as you can. Your provider will have a set procedure to suspend the service and can take you through the details.
• Give them your phone's unique serial number: Bet you're glad you made a note of it now, huh? A couple of keystrokes at their end, and the villain with your phone might as well have nicked a brick... it would be more useful to them now the mobile's been disabled.
• Make a police report: Involving the police may not guarantee the return of your phone, but if you have a billing contract with your phone provider (as opposed to using phone cards) you may need to show them a copy of the report before they'll issue you with a new phone. Just don't go phoning 999 to report the theft. Be smart and drop into your local station instead.

Being harassed by text

When it comes to mobile phones, text harassment is on the increase. Why has it become such an issue? Well, it's relatively easy to remain anonymous when sending text messages. Nowadays, mobile phones can be bought over the counter, with no names on contracts or admin paper trails. This makes calls difficult to trace.

What's behind a threatening text?

Receiving any kind of unwanted, malicious message is unpleasant. It can rock your confidence, and cause you to ask questions about family and friends (statistics show that in most cases, it'll be someone you know). But whoever's behind it, and it may take some time to find out, you need to keep assuring yourself that this is their problem and not yours. What they're doing is a cowardly act, driven by anything from jealousy to insecurity or just plain spite.

How should I respond?

Don't respond - you'll be giving this individual exactly what he or she wants. They're trying to provoke a response from you, after all - anything they can act upon or use to justify further abuse, which is why it's so important to deny them the opportunity. So instead of hitting reply, press save or make a note of the text, including the time and date. Also keep any itemised phone bills. Build up evidence in this way, and if you have to take it to someone with the authority to act, you can provide all the proof they need.

What if it continues?

Hopefully your silent treatment will mean the person responsible gets bored of sending one-way texts and quits. Even so, you have every right to take further steps in a bid to stop this harassment, and you can do so at any time. Here's how:

• Limit your mobile phone use: Consider returning to landlines for a while. The less you use your phone, the more frustrated your text stalker will become.
• Get a second mobile phone: Be selective about giving out the number, and make a note of who has it.
• Confidential: When you give out the number be sure that person understands that it's confidential. If the harassment then switches to that phone, at least you have a list of likely suspects, and can whittle it down accordingly.

Getting the Police involved

If the abuse continues, or you feel threatened in any way, consider handing it to the police. Bring your evidence with you, too (notes/itemised phone bills) and let them make enquires. Malicious or abusive phone calls are a criminal offence, and so is harassment involving persistent contact that causes distress. For more info, report the problem to your mobile phone service provider. They will have procedures to deal with unwanted texts, and can advise you on the next step.