The mobile has become an essential part of our life. It goes with us everywhere and in it we already have our whole life in the form of photos, passwords, messages and a long etcetera, and the most exposed to accidents and, in addition, one of the most coveted objects by lovers of others.
The figures of the “accident rate” of mobiles
According to the latest data from the Secretary of State for Security, mobile theft is already the most common theft. Each year, more than 280,000 complaints of theft are filed, which means that every hour about 30 mobile phones are stolen and about 200 a day. Only in Madrid there are 3,500 mobile thefts per year.
As for accidents, it has been calculated that, on average, in just 10 weeks those who have released their brand new smartphone today will suffer their first incident , the most common being damage from liquids and, above all, bumps, falls and breaks of items such as the screen.
Main methods of theft of a mobile and tips to avoid them
Criminals have adapted the classic theft techniques such as the crutch, the false hug, the clamp or the push to “lift” the cell phone that we carry in our pocket or that we leave on the table.
That is why, if we want to protect our terminal, the first advice is caution . Among the tips that you should never forget:
- Do not carry it in the back pockets of pants or outside in jackets.
- Never leave them on a table when we are in a bar or cafeteria.
In the event of a robbery, there is little we can do. There is a premium in avoiding personal injury, but we can put measures that make us recover the phone as soon as possible:
- Activate a system that allows us to locate a stolen terminal at any time, or at least its last position on. Furthermore, we must
- Write down the IMEI , the unique 15-digit identifier of each device, to claim it if we see it for sale.
- Report the police as soon as possible, since in many cases, in less than 24 hours, many mobiles leave the country to evade the legislation.
How to protect a mobile against the most common accidents
The other great danger to the integrity of our smartphone, accidents, is more common but no less predictable. It is true that with the arrival of IP69- certified mobiles , resistant even to immersions of up to 30 minutes at a depth of between 1 and 2 meters, the damage caused by accidental falls in swimming pools or toilets has been reduced.
But they are not the only liquids that can damage mobile phones. Coffees, juices or soft drinks are even more dangerous than water, since they contain sugars and fats, which, if they seep into the equipment, can render its components useless, against which the traditional trick of putting the mobile phone in a bowl of rice has nothing what to do.
Screen breakage continues as the main fault, with a 77% incidence of all accidents. To which we must add that many terminals already have their glass back casing, due to the extension of mobile phones with wireless charging, incompatible with those that have a metal chassis.
The best antidote is to start by choosing a good case or, better, a case that protects the equipment from bumps and falls. And if it is waterproof, we will also have mobile insurance against possible liquid splashes.
In addition, you can not miss the presence of a screen protector , but not plastic that only prevents scratches. Instead, go for one made of tempered glass that will absorb the impact and break before the screen.