Cambridge is UK's top mobile phone crime city

Cambridge is officially the top spot in the UK for mobile phone theft and fraud, according to a survey by life assistance business CPP.

The city was followed by Leicester, London, Birmingham, Glasgow and Sheffield, all of which registered more than 10 per cent of residents as having had their phones stolen.

CPP's research also showed that women were more vulnerable than men, and that one in five of all 16-24 year-olds had been victims of mobile theft or fraud.

The most popular hunting grounds for mobile phone thieves are pubs and clubs, where more than a quarter of crimes are committed.

"The constantly high rate of mobile phone theft reflects the fact that Britons are still not doing enough to protect their valuables," said John Walkley, head of mobile phone security at CPP Phonesafe.

"It is important to remember that your mobile phone is worth more than its retail price. Once stolen, fraudsters can use all the information it carries and engage in criminal activities."

Top 10 UK cities for mobile phone theft:

Cambridge (20 per cent)
Leicester (19 per cent)
London (15.5 per cent)
Birmingham (13.7 per cent)
Glasgow (12.1 per cent)
Sheffield (11.8 per cent)
Manchester (9.4 per cent)
Liverpool and Southampton (9.2 per cent)
Newcastle (8.7 per cent)

Likeliest location for theft:

Pub (14.8 per cent)
Club (11.7 per cent)
High Street/Restaurant (7.2 per cent)
Home (6.3 per cent)
Holiday abroad (5.8 per cent)
At work (5.4 per cent)
Shop (4 per cent)
Bus (3.1 per cent)
Supermarket (3.1 per cent)
Train (2.7 per cent)

See also:

Mobile payments to ring up $11bn by 2011

Analyst predicts 52 million consumers paying for goods via mobile technology  01 Nov 2007

Stolen mobiles blocked in 24 hours

Handset theft now pointless, claims Home Office  29 Oct 2007

Organised crime holding off on mobile viruses

Mostly the work of amateurs, say experts  12 Sep 2007

Companies still ignoring mobile data perils

Nine out of 10 firms putting information and reputation at risk  10 Sep 2007

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