European mobile device owners have been warned to keep an eye on their gadgets when out and about between 12 and 5pm as this is the prime time for smartphone theft, according to new research from Lookout.
The mobile security firm interviewed over 2,000 people across the UK, France and Germany as well as the US to compile its Europe’s Phone Theft report.
Surprisingly, it found that most devices weren’t stolen under the cover of darkness, but instead went missing in the 12-5 slot (37%).
That said, 28% vanished between the hours of 5-10pm while 26% were stolen after 10pm.
It’s perhaps not surprising, then, that most Brits reported their phone stolen in a pub, bar or club (23%). In France, devices most commonly disappeared on public transport (17%).
In Europe, pickpocketing was the most common form of theft, accounting for 28% of stolen devices, with the figure rising to 32% in France.
In the UK, iPhones (39%) were most popular among thieves, significantly more than Android handsets (24%). In Germany, however, it was the reverse, with Android (42%) trumping iOS devices (33%).
Driving home the importance to UK users of keeping their smartphones safe, Lookout claimed that mobiles are more likely to be stolen than wallets. Some 23% said they’d had their phones stolen while just 13% claimed to have had their wallets or money nicked.
It’s not just the hassle of replacing the device which should force users into taking more care, the mobile security company said.
Some 10% of phone theft victims said they’d lost confidential corporate information stored on the device, while 11% said they’d suffered identity theft as a result and 9% had experienced fraudulent account charges.
Lookout urged users to lock their devices with a PIN or passcode and switch on remote location capabilities. Apps are also available to lock down or even wipe the device if lost.
The firm also asked smartphone owners to stay vigilant while out and about and to immediately report a theft to police and their mobile operator to begin the insurance claim process.
There was some good news for UK mobile users, however. Only 4% said they had experienced tablet theft.