The latest weapon in the war on mobile phone crime has been unveiled. The Immobilise Phone Crime database site allows users to register their unique 15-digit International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) serial number on to a secure police database.
The National Mobile Phone Crime Unit at Scotland Yard launched the new register, which will make the tracking of lost or stolen phones a lot quicker. Patrol officers and detectives investigating organised mobile theft will both use it to quickly determine if a phone is stolen.
“This means we can return more lost and stolen phones to their rightful owners and thereby charge more people with offences relating to mobile phones and put more offenders before the courts. I would encourage every mobile phone owner to join the register,” Says Tim Godwin, Assistant Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
This is a great step forward, but rather than relying on individuals to register their phones it would be much better if phones were placed on the database at point of purchase.