Summer is pickpocket season

(CS) With the sunny weather luring people outdoors, pickpockets and organised thieves are having a field day, police warn.

Wearing lighter clothing in the warm weather in many cases makes it easier for pickpockets to locate and steal smartphone devices, a police spokesperson said. On the whole, outdoor areas are busier in summer, providing more distraction and easier targets for thieves.

Police therefore recommend phones and other valuables to be safely stored away at all times. People seated in outdoor areas should be watchful of their bags or jackets, but should also avoid leaving their phones lying on a table, as practiced thieves know a number of manoeuvres to quickly swipe the devices.

From time to time the City is hit by organised groups, Daniel Back of the police explained, adding, however, that there is generally a steady level of thefts, an issue which he called a “continuous problem” and a “plague.”

Back could not give detailed figures of the number of phones normally stolen over any given period, as they are not recorded separately but listed under “theft” for statistics, which also includes any other items, such as handbags.

However, he said that there are noticeable peaks when new mobile devices hit the market. In the US, the phenomenon has already been dubbed Apple picking, as iPhone users in particular fall victim to phone thieves, a trend which Back could not confirm for Luxembourg.

In order to avoid data stored on your phone only to be lost it is recommended to frequently carry out back-ups. When a phone is stolen passwords to online services used with the phone should be changed. Depending on how connected you are with your phone it could be worth notifying your bank to keep an eye on fraudulent activity.

There are also apps available which allow for smartphones to be tracked, locked or wiped remotely. Mobile phone providers can disconnect the number.