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Police report surge in thefts of iPhones

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    Black market for stolen smartphones growing

  • Duration 5:12
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Your Smartphone to be making you -- target for thieves police are reporting a spike in Smartphone and tablet robberies across the country.

So how can you avoid becoming a victim joining us now is the founder of gadget track.

His name is Ken -- and -- why are we seeing a spike in iPhone thefts and tablet -- across the country.

-- and has been increasing over the last few years you know roughly half the population in the US currently have Smartphone.

You know as they become more expensive there are also becoming status symbols -- and not only are they -- symbols but they're also easy to sell for our quick cash.

There's a high demand for them even when -- use but not if you know how what to do before your phone is stolen and you take us through some of these tips before your -- stolen people don't do this but.

It's very simple to do you say it won't go through some of these tips here.

Right down the unique idea of your device also known as what the IM EI number little techie but I -- is worthwhile.

Yeah either side different unique identifiers and usually it's I'm going to be on the box -- actually your your phone comes and it's that behind me I'm number -- your carrier also how that information for -- so it's something good to have written down.

Also it's it's really helpful for when you wanna file a police report found out that information helps increase the odds that you're going to hear device back if -- please do come across it.

Right simply if you know apple who had knows that number and someone and then else tries to activate that only know that exact number and they can pinpoint where it is.

He also talk about writing a setting a pin or a pass code on your device so many people just think Adam need to worry about setting up you know on the phone right got to do it.

Right not only is the value of your device but also your data that's on that device.

Especially when some of these devices and up in different countries on you know your photos your contacts all your information.

If you -- set a pin number on that device or password.

I'm allows you to ensure that your information stay safe what else can you do before your phone -- like backing up and tracking anything like you can do in that regard.

All right so you want to install you know software like which -- belts.

I'm the -- to track the device also you can remotely wipe information from the device Simon also -- information gets backed up.

-- -- the devices ever stolen.

Com you can also back up if it's my phone you can back it up directly -- when he connected to your computer I'm so it's always good to make sure that your data stay safe.

You know just like your computer should always be backing up your information right you can use iCloud backups which when you plug in every night sync over Wi-Fi and you can use your service gadget track to keep track for -- dad -- also next up though you say.

To protect yourself.

There are few things you can do when you're walking around I mean this happens here in the subways in New York but it's not just happening in New York.

Right it's untrue it's everywhere it's pretty much epidemic I mean if you look at some people -- look on a train them everyone's looking down at their phone.

They have their white earbuds on which there -- a key indicated -- you have an iPhone.

And usually it's one and someone comes into like when a -- comes to a stop.

I'm not using one of -- is gonna strike.

Work they're calling them smashing grounds were basically will some will come up and then punch you in the face grab your phone and then run.

-- when the doors open so I'm so it's really important to make sure you're aware of your surroundings when your -- public transit.

Especially when the train stops -- that she's human at the does that strike you out.

There -- -- see -- on the train a lot you just have to be more aware of it now that we know that this is more prevalent.

They see if your device is still on there are there are some things you can do let's walk through these starting with the police report.

Right down a lot of times people don't realize that you if you file -- report you know they think -- there's no chance of me and my device back there's nothing police can do.

Combo we found especially lot of our recovery is is that -- recover one device recover multiple devices around sometimes I'm a huge operation fencing operation.

I'm so -- -- to have a lot of phones but they don't really belong to because please -- was ever filed.

Console they don't don't have any way to map that unique idea I was talking about come back to the owner so it's critical that even if his sister from the -- only file -- police report.

In if there was no other crime that was committed like it's part of a -- it's like that you can -- even filed a police report directly on line.

Yet and some police department taking it very seriously New York City in an NYPD setting up its own.

Division I get -- division but group to go after.

Stolen phones you also say immediately contact your carrier AT&T Verizon T-Mobile whenever.

In -- deactivate your service and you also see activate the tracking on the device.

And you can actually remotely wipe the data as well right.

A yet depends I mean you have to have software installed -- prior like comic -- attack or you know Apple's find my phone that ought to be installed on the device before it's on.

But if it is on the device you can activate that tracking -- and hopefully you know that'll provide you some information that you can then get to law enforcement to recover your device.

It's really important not to try to recover device on your own it's critical that you work with law enforcement -- provide that information directly to them.

Can west is the founder of gadget -- go there should check -- his service which will actually protect -- gadgets as well can thank you we appreciate it.

Great thank you if you have any questions you can also find me on Twitter at Clayton Morris in fact I'll help you find your I and the I number which can be buried in the -- and -- hope you find.

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