Police crime statistics are just in and if you value your tech, keep it safe in Leicestershire:
The English county has taken London's No. 1 place in the league table of places where your mobile and/or other electronic devices are most likely to be stolen.
Many (many) years ago I went to an open day at Leicester University when I was looking for a place to study BSc Botany (I have no idea how I ended up doing the jobs that I've done over the years!).
To be honest, I wasn't impressed with the place, and when even the lecturers warn you how "dodgy" the town is, it doesn't fix a great impression in your mind.
I remember the coach tour of the campus and surrounding areas: It was bleak with a sense of metropolitan dread.
I was not sorry to leave, and Leicester University was not my first choice.
Anyhoo; this news has made me think of how lax we all are with our mobiles, tablets, etc. when out and about.
Many people fifteen years ago kept their precious mobiles hidden from view (a strange thing to do with a fashion accessory), and I remember the TV adverts warning people not to stand outside pubs with the green glow of your mobile's LCD screen lighting up your face in the dark - making you a prime target for muggers.
These days, mobiles have begun to get more and more expensive, with flagship devices costing well over £600, yet people flaunt them and leave them in full view on bars.
You can even whip them out and pay for things like a CHIP and PIN card.
What thief wouldn't want to get their nasty hands on your phone?
My first large screen phone was the Samsung Galaxy S3, and my local pub was pretty safe. However the first time that I cautiously produced it from my pocket a bunch of blokes noticed it and commented on it's size. Some things are hard to ignore, and an opportunist or pre-planned mugger could always be on the lookout.
Ok, now there are so many similarly designed, large screen phones around a thief could steal one, only to find that it's worth less than £100.
But, £100 is still quite a bit of cash, plus the information your phone holds could potentially be worth a great deal more.
I feel that people are now far less cautious with their mobiles and other electronic devices.
In many ways it's hard not to have them on show, as we use them so much during the day.
Many places are dodgy, and common sense tells you not to get out your brand new iPhone in most places unless you really enjoy making yourself a target.
That TV campaign to try to prevent mobile phone theft would do well if it was re-run and updated, as I think that we have all become complacent about theft.
These types of crime can and do happen everywhere, so remember to make your personal data secure and avoid flaunting your fashionable new phone around in public.
(If you were wondering, I went to my first choice of university: The wonderful University of Wales, Aberystwyth.)
