Are you constantly on your phone while walking? Well be warned.
The Gardaí have released new figures that show two-thirds of all thefts and robberies involve mobile phones. The stats also reveal that two in five phone thefts take place on a road, street or footpath.
The Garda Síochána Analysis Service have released the figures as part of a personal safety campaign which runs through March.
The GSAS found:
- 3 in 4 victims of phone theft are aged between 18 and 39
- 2 in 5 thefts occur between 10am and 4am between Friday and Sunday
- There were 5,703 phone thefts in 2016, down 14% on 2015
- 498 phones were reported stolen last March, compared to 641 in 2015
- €2.5m worth of mobile phones were stolen in 2016
The ‘Streetwise’ campaign is targeting 18 to 39 year-olds with a message to mind their personal property and possessions, and to plan their nights out.
The public awareness campaign will include advertising on digital media, outdoor advertising and in-pub advertising.
On social media, people are being advised to #mindyourstuff.
