Handy hints for Mobile Phones
How to use the Secure Sentinel mobile phone service
Record your mobile phone details with Secure Sentinel including phone number, make and model, service provider and serial number.
Place the appropriate Secure Sentinel sticker on your phone.
If the phone is lost or stolen ring Secure Sentinel to have an outgoing call bar placed. Secure Sentinel can also arrange an IMEI bar to be placed on the phone, disabling the handset completely. No other user can then substitute their SIM card and use the handset. The phone is now more likely to be retrievable. The block can take up to 36 hours to have removed.
Secure Sentinel will record the loss of the phone and attempt to contact the owner in the event of the phone being reported as found.
Record your mobile phone details with Secure Sentinel including phone number, make and model, service provider and serial number.
Place the appropriate Secure Sentinel sticker on your phone.
If the phone is lost or stolen ring Secure Sentinel to have an outgoing call bar placed. Secure Sentinel can also arrange an IMEI bar to be placed on the phone, disabling the handset completely. No other user can then substitute their SIM card and use the handset. The phone is now more likely to be retrievable. The block can take up to 36 hours to have removed.
Secure Sentinel will record the loss of the phone and attempt to contact the owner in the event of the phone being reported as found.
Mobile phone security statistics
More than 200,000 mobile phones are reported lost or stolen in Australia each year. This equates to 4,000 each week or one mobile phone handset every three minutes.
More than 200,000 mobile phones are reported lost or stolen in Australia each year. This equates to 4,000 each week or one mobile phone handset every three minutes.
Mobile phone theft
According to a recent study, mobile phones are most likely to be stolen from cars (28 per cent), social venues such as restaurants, pubs and clubs (20 per cent) and the workplace (8 per cent). Most phones are reported lost or stolen on Mondays, suggesting that most phones go missing over the weekend.
According to a recent study, mobile phones are most likely to be stolen from cars (28 per cent), social venues such as restaurants, pubs and clubs (20 per cent) and the workplace (8 per cent). Most phones are reported lost or stolen on Mondays, suggesting that most phones go missing over the weekend.
Theft prevention
Never leave your mobile in the car. Apart from the replacement cost there’s usually damage to the car as well.
Keep your mobile on you. Don’t put it down in a public place, for example shop counter or table in a pub, club or café or leave it unattended. It’s easy to forget as well as being easy for a thief to see and grab.
Keep it quiet
When you are on your own with few people about, for example at a railway station late at night, switch to vibrate mode. A ring tone could attract the attention of a thief. Busy places where a thief can "disappear into a crowd" like markets and sporting venues are also recommended “no ring zones”.
Identify ownership
Use Secure Sentinel stickers and/or engrave Secure Sentinel member number / phone number on both the phone and battery. It will make your mobile harder for a thief to sell.
Notify Secure Sentinel and the police immediately in the event of loss or theft.
Mobile phone security
Using security features like PIN numbers and code locks helps prevent unauthorised use of your mobile and makes it more likely to be recovered in the event of theft.
Inter-carrier IMEI blocking
Since the launch of inter-carrier IMEI blocking in 2003, nearly 50,000 lost and stolen handsets have been blocked.
What is an IMEI number?
The International Mobile Equipment (IMEI) number is an international identity number used to uniquely identify a mobile phone. The 15-17-digit IMEI number is an electronic fingerprint transmitted every time a phone is used, which reveals the identity of the mobile handset. They are independent of phone numbers and are usually stamped beneath the battery on the back of the handset. Alternatively dial *#06# to display the IMEI number.
Where can I check the status of my handset?
To confirm whether your handset is blocked or unblocked you can check the AMTA website for lost and stolen IMEI status queries. Type in the IMEI number of the handset and the status of your handset will be found to the most recent time noted on the page.
Alternatively you can call Telstra IMEI blocking inquiry line 1900 964 634. This service will tell you if your handset has been reported as being either lost or stolen on the Telstra network. (Only applies to the Telstra network).
How long will it take to have my found phone unlocked?
In most cases this will be within 36 hours.
Is IMEI blocking applicable to the CDMA network?
No. CDMA network phones do not use SIM cards and have their own unique security systems and they cannot be swapped to other networks.
Never leave your mobile in the car. Apart from the replacement cost there’s usually damage to the car as well.
Keep your mobile on you. Don’t put it down in a public place, for example shop counter or table in a pub, club or café or leave it unattended. It’s easy to forget as well as being easy for a thief to see and grab.
Keep it quiet
When you are on your own with few people about, for example at a railway station late at night, switch to vibrate mode. A ring tone could attract the attention of a thief. Busy places where a thief can "disappear into a crowd" like markets and sporting venues are also recommended “no ring zones”.
Identify ownership
Use Secure Sentinel stickers and/or engrave Secure Sentinel member number / phone number on both the phone and battery. It will make your mobile harder for a thief to sell.
Notify Secure Sentinel and the police immediately in the event of loss or theft.
Mobile phone security
Using security features like PIN numbers and code locks helps prevent unauthorised use of your mobile and makes it more likely to be recovered in the event of theft.
Inter-carrier IMEI blocking
Since the launch of inter-carrier IMEI blocking in 2003, nearly 50,000 lost and stolen handsets have been blocked.
What is an IMEI number?
The International Mobile Equipment (IMEI) number is an international identity number used to uniquely identify a mobile phone. The 15-17-digit IMEI number is an electronic fingerprint transmitted every time a phone is used, which reveals the identity of the mobile handset. They are independent of phone numbers and are usually stamped beneath the battery on the back of the handset. Alternatively dial *#06# to display the IMEI number.
Where can I check the status of my handset?
To confirm whether your handset is blocked or unblocked you can check the AMTA website for lost and stolen IMEI status queries. Type in the IMEI number of the handset and the status of your handset will be found to the most recent time noted on the page.
Alternatively you can call Telstra IMEI blocking inquiry line 1900 964 634. This service will tell you if your handset has been reported as being either lost or stolen on the Telstra network. (Only applies to the Telstra network).
How long will it take to have my found phone unlocked?
In most cases this will be within 36 hours.
Is IMEI blocking applicable to the CDMA network?
No. CDMA network phones do not use SIM cards and have their own unique security systems and they cannot be swapped to other networks.