Offending users: designing-in deterrence with mobile telephones

This paper describes research relating to the design semantics of desirable products and the crime of theft. The methods employed range from the review of existing designs of mobile phones and associated systems and technologies, the perception of crime from a student designer's viewpoint and, importantly, the opinions of young offenders about proposed design solutions. We developed conceptual designs in consultation with the Mobile Data Association and these were reviewed by a sample of groups of young offenders and 'non-offender' consumers of similar age, to reflect the different user perspectives. The conclusions reveal differences between offenders and non-offenders in their perceptions of the deterrent effect of different design solutions. It is suggested that the research offers insight into the use of empathic strategies in the design of frequently stolen 'hot products'

Progress and prospects in the prevention of mobile phone theft

Mobile phone ownership continues to be a driver of theft and robbery in the UK. Several years of news headlines such as “Mobile Phones and iPods fuel rise in Muggings” ((2006) Independent, February 27,) suggest that the problem may be getting worse rather than better. Whether this is true probably depends on what is measured. It is likely that total crimes have remained stable or increased at the same time as risk-per-phoneowner has decreased. The latest Oftel figures show that in 2005-6, the UK’s mobile phone subscriptions exceeded the population for the first time, having doubled in the last five or six years. The country being awash with mobile phones, stealing them is like shooting the proverbial fish in a barrel. We argue below that progress has been made in tackling mobile phone theft and that this is not incompatible with an increase in the problem, which would have been even greater without the measures taken to date. There may be a case for cautious optimism – but only if efforts to prevent mobile phone theft continue to be at least as persistent, innovative and adaptable as the thieves themselves to the point where the problem is stabilized and diminishes thereafter. Government, police and the mobile industry, working together, have a technological and geo-political advantage over offenders that, with a lot of skill and dogged determination, could yield absolute crime reductions in the future. What follows reviews some of the progress to date in tackling mobile phone theft and suggests this should form a platform for an expanded crime prevention effort

Bring on the safety razr: the top-10 stolen mobile phones

Mobile phone theft and robberies are almost as ubiquitous as the devices themselves

In safe hands: A review of mobile phone anti-theft designs

Anti-theft designs relating to mobile phones are reviewed. The physical and electronic design of handsets includes visual deterrents, owner-identification, and handset tracking options. The systems design of phone networks includes the blacklisting of stolen phones. Other measures include biometric-locking of handsets, and designs that encourage ‘safe’ phone use and transportation. Characteristics that promote anti-theft designs are proposed and form the acronym ‘IN SAFE HANDS’: identifiable, neutral, seen, attached, findable, executable, hidden, automatic, necessary, detectable, and secure. The set of characteristics is presented as a heuristic device to aid designing-out crime from frequently stolen electronic goods