How mobile recycling prevents phone theft and serious crimes
Most people by now probably have heard about mobile recycling and how it is possible to get cash for mobile. Most likely also you may have heard about how mobile phone recycling helps the environment. I bet you do not know however that mobile recycling also helps in discouraging phone thefts and other serious crimes. How? Did you ask?
Most phone thieves would not like to use the handsets that they have stolen. Rather, they would want to dispose of these handsets usually to unsuspecting individuals either in the streets or second hand buyers of mobile phones. Now this is how mobile recycling is helping the United Kingdom discourage phone thefts which sometimes are associated with serious crimes such as rape, burglary, murder, etc.
Reputable mobile phone recycling companies have a duty to ascertain the status of the mobile phones that they have received. Whether they have a history of ever been reported lost, stolen or missing? Other searches might include whether these mobiles have been blocked or barred by a mobile network service provider or mobile phone insurance company in the past.
These mobile phone status checks can be carried out by checking the device’s IMEI number against a database of devices held by the police organisations. This database is updated each time an individual loses a mobile phone and reports it to their mobile network service provider or mobile phone insurance company. Usually, it would always be an up-to-date database. In order to however ensure that not lost, stolen or missing phone goes unrecovered people must always report to the police and their network provider who can then go on to block the lines.
If and or when a mobile recycling company receives a lost, stolen, missing, blocked or barred phone it is their duty to report this to the police and must never offer cash for mobile in this case. Normally, attempts would be made to re-unite such devices with their rightful owners. Culprits may be apprehended and in a case where the device was linked to a serious crime such as rape, burglary, murder, etc findings and new evidence may be able to resolve cases.
The number of mobiles stolen each year in the UK is estimated to be around 100,000 and worth £4m. We must all put hands on deck to stem the tide of phone theft which have been found to often be linked to serious crimes by not buying our used or new handsets from unscrupulous sources. Also remember to report to the police when your device is lost, stolen or missing so that the database containing all reported phone theft cases may be updated. If members of the public join hands with mobile recycling companies, network providers, phone insurance companies and the police then we might help reduce phone theft and the crimes around them.
Help prevent the sale of stolen phones – Call CRIME STOPPERS on 0800 555 111 or contact your local police station.
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