In Singapore, there are nearly 5000 cases of hand phone theft reported each year. To make things worse, the police doesn’t seem to take hand phone theft reports seriously. ‘Petty Thefts’ like these are hardly ever pursued.
It’s unlikely that you’ll actually find your phone, but if you’re feeling particularly mischievous, you can set your Android phone to dial for help when it’s been stolen. Here’s how:
Tasker for Android
Firstly, you can programme your phone to ‘pocket-dial’ a chosen number in the event it is stolen. If you own an Android phone, download Tasker from the Android Marketplace for US$6.59.
Then, follow these step-by-step instructions to configure your phone. And voila! When your Android phone receives a text message trigger from a specific number, it will dial a pre-assigned number automatically.
Download Tasker here
Find My iPhone
If you lose your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch while on the go, simply install the Find My iPhone app on another iOS device, launch it, and sign in with your Apple ID (Find My iPhone must already be configured on the missing device).
FEATURES
- Locate your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch on a map
- Display a message and optionally play a sound for two minutes at full volume (even if your device is set to silent)
- Remotely set a passcode lock on your device, or lock it using your existing passcode
- Remotely wipe your device to permanently erase all of your personal data
Please note that you must first set up and turn on Find My iPhone on each device you want to locate (installing this app is not required).
Download Find My iPhone here
My Locator
Insidious as it sounds, the My Locator service by Starhub is a tracking service that is available to all Starhub Mobile customers. Once subscribed to this service, a simple SMS command will allow a user to be given the approximate location of the vicinity of the phone they wish to track. They are also provided with a map link whereby they can view the location on a map.
Read more about it here:
http://www.starhub.com/support/mobile/faq/valueaddedservices/mylocator.html
Buyers of second hand phones are encouraged to screen their IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) on the Singapore Police Force’s HITS (Handphone IMEI Tracing System) to see if they are purchasing a reconditioned stolen handphone.
An IMEI number is a series of 15 to 17 digit unique identification number assigned to each handphone. This can be traced on the police’s HITS database.
Perhaps the kind soul that bought your stolen handphone will report it to the police and send your phone back to you.
Maybe.
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