Mobile phone theft will be a "pointless" exercise with the introduction of a new security system in the next few weeks, according to the three main mobile service providers.
The system will enable the providers to bar handsets from use across all
networks once they have been reported stolen. Using a central anti-theft
database of identification numbers exclusive to each handset, it will be
possible to bar stolen handsets and render them useless.
Ms Johanna Cassells, corporate affairs managers with O2 said the
system would be based on the International Mobile Equipment Identifier
number (IMEI) technology. Every individual phone has its own 15-digit
IMEI number, usually found under the battery. "When a phone is stolen
the number can be barred making the handset useless, even if a person
puts in their own SIM card," said Ms Cassells.
Clients reported over 25,000 stolen phones to the company last year and
while the other two service providers, Meteor and Vodafone, do not
have exact figures, the Garda say up to 60 per cent of all stolen personal
items are mobile phones. Company estimates suggest that 2,000 mobiles
are stolen each week.
Phones are taken, often violently, from people as they use them. They
are also stolen from handbags, pockets and people's homes. One of the
most notorious cases was that of Dublin teenager Alan Higgins, who
was stabbed to death in October last year, and his mobile phone stolen.
Although the three providers have been putting the service in place for
their own customers over the past year, they are about to link up their
databases.
Mr Andrew Kelly, director of corporate affairs with Meteor, said that
while the company's customers could have their stolen handset barred
from use with another Meteor SIM card, "when we link up with O2 and
Vodafone we will be able to block the handset across all networks. It's an
effective system and we will have the technology linked up in a matter of
weeks".
The central database will be run jointly by the three service providers
and the Irish Cellular Industry Association.
Ms Catherine Devereaux of Vodafone said the next step would be to link
with other IMEI databases in Britain and later Europe, so stolen Irish
phones could be barred from use abroad and vice-versa.
Mr Kelly said, however the system could be circumvented by criminals'
reconfiguration of IMEI numbers on stolen phones. As chairman of the
Wireless Industry Group in IBEC, he is calling for legislation, similar to
that in Britain, to outlaw such reconfiguration.
