Police mobile phone warning

Hastings Police are warning people not to report their mobile phones as stolen for insurance claim purposes when they are simply lost.

Police have spoken out following a large number of reports of thefts of mobile phones.

Due to the number and the manner in which the phones have been reported they have looked into the problem, which is a national issue.

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In most cases there has been some time delay in the theft being reported and often the premises where the items have apparently been stolen have not even been notified by the loser.

Said a police spokesman: "On speaking to the people who have lost the phones it is clear they are only reporting items stolen once they speak to their service provider and are told they need a crime number to make an insurance claim.

"We have found on a large number of occasions, mobile phones have been reported as stolen when in fact the owner has lost or misplaced their phone or simply wanted an upgrade from their mobile phone provider.

"Reporting a crime which has not happened is an offence in itself and therefore when mobile phones are reported as stolen a number of enquiries will be conducted.

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"These include checking where the item was reported as stolen and verifying who was notified, viewing CCTV and liaising with your airtime provider to establish the exact circumstances of the theft, as they will provide us with details of original reports to them of loss.

"It is important to give police the correct facts when reporting a crime."

He added: "All mobile telephone thefts and robberies are fully investigated by a dedicated officer. In the event of police identifying a false report the person reporting may be prosecuted."

Anyone who requires a lost reference number for a mobile telephone should phone Hastings Police Station front office on 0845 60 70 999.