Almost since they began to appear on the market, mobile phones became the target of thieves, and even more so with the development of expensive smartphones,
To help reduce thefts the CWTA and wireless members announced the creation of a blacklist of stolen phones which should make it harder to use or re-sell stolen devices.
Mr Bernard Lord is President of the CWTA, based in Ottawa
ListenAccording to the Canadian Wireless Telecommunications Association, there were 100,000 cell phones reported lost or stolen in Canada in 2010. In 2012 it was 69,210.
The decline in lost or stolen phones may be attributed to more smartphones equipped with apps to locate their whereabouts if they vanish. However, some police forces are not so sure about the apparent decline.
Staff Sergeant Kim Scanlon is not convinced as cellphone theft increased from 2009 to 2012 in Canada’s largest city as cellphones become more costly and are often loaded with the person’s apps.
The other concern is that violence is usually involved in the theft. This can range from pushing the victim, to actual beatings and including the threat of knives and guns.
Youths are often the target with earphones being a giveaway, and Iphones and Samsung Galaxy models being prized.
With the new “blacklist” registry, people reporting their phones lost or stolen can prevent their use by someone else. Once registered, Canada’s wireless companies will not connect the phone. The new registry will also be connected with the US registry to limit cross border traffic in stolen phones.
On almost all devices there is a 15 digit International Mobile Equipment Identity number (IMEI).
To find it, simply dial *#06# on most devices or alternatively, the IMEI number should also be on a white label found underneath the battery of your device.
Often devices will be sold privately and to protect yourself from buying a stolen phone, the CWTA has a website called ProtectYourData.ca
There is a convenient tool that allows Canadians to enter the IMEI number of a wireless device to find out immediately if that device has been blacklisted in Canada as of September 30, 2013 and beyond.
The feeling is that as this blacklist will make it harder to sell stolen devices thereby making them less attractive for theft
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