Romford Town Centre Team’s Day Of Action To Support The Met’s Mobile Phone Intensification Week.

On Thursday, 23 January Romford Town Centre police team took part in a day of action as part of the Met’s mobile phone intensification week.

Held with the Romford BID team, town centre security teams and Havering Enforcement, officers engaged with local residents and businesses with a community stall in The Liberty handing out crime prevention leaflets, and offering advice.

Pawn brokers and mobile phone shops in Romford Town Centre were visited and staff were given crime prevention advice around safety with mobile phones and helping their customers protect themselves and their devices. Dip samples were carried out in businesses that sell second hand phones and officers checked IMEI numbers of some of the phones for sale to determine whether they had been reported as stolen.

 Three arrests were made for various offences in including failing to appear at court, possession of an offensive weapon and theft and aggravated burglary. The officers conducted 8 stop and searches and  generated 5 intelligence reports which can be used to build future cases. 

Julie Frost, Romford BID Director said, “When the Police, Havering Enforcement, Community Safety Officers, My Local Bobby, and local security teams actively engage with the community, it not only helps prevent crime but also fosters an atmosphere where businesses can thrive, and residents feel safe in their daily lives. Yesterday’s event was a clear reflection of this, with 75 people visiting the information stands, 8 crime reports completed, and 3 arrests made. The overwhelmingly positive response from businesses, residents, and workers was a testament to its success, and we are committed to making this a regular occurrence moving forward.”

Mobile phone theft happens daily across London and people lose their valuables to thieves. Across he Met, mobile phone initiatives are carried out targeting thieves on the streets and ensuring tech shops are buying and selling mobile phone legally. 

Here are a few things you can do to protect you phone.

 Ensure you keep a record of your phone’s IMEI number in case your phone is stolen.

·    This is a 15 digit unique number which can be obtained by pressing *#06#. Some products may have this on the device or on the original packaging. You will need this information if your phone is  lost or stolen.

·    Register your phone for free on a Secured by Design approved property registration database (www.securedbydesign.com). This helps police to identify you as the rightful owner and return your handset to you if lost or stolen.

·    Use security or PIN locks to protect your data and prevent the phone being used if stolen.

·    When not in use, never leave your phone unattended in a public place or vehicle.

·    Take particular care of your phone at bars, cafes, coffee-shops, restaurants and music venues – thieves are known to target these venues.

·    If using your phone in public, stay alert and be aware of what’s going on around you.

·    Avoid using your mobile phone in public at night. If you do have to use your phone, try to find an area that’s well-lit. Avoid getting your phone out at train stations and bus stops as these are areas that thieves target.

·    Never reply to spam messages you may receive over SMS or Bluetooth, even to text ‘STOP’.

·    Consider installing a tracker application on your Smartphone, it could help trace your device if stolen. If your device is stolen, act quickly – inform the police and tell them you have a tracker app installed

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