MOBILE phone theft is a growing problem -- but there are ways to foil would-be thieves, say police.

Officers in Blackpool deal with around 30 incidents of mobile phone theft each month. Many victims are aged between 11 and 16.

DC Ian Mather, the town centre violent crime officer, said that the thefts tended to come in waves.

"It usually coincides with the release of new mobile phones by the phone companies, particularly Nokia. They seem to be a big target," he said.

But there are steps that mobile phone owners can take to make it more difficult for thieves to use phones if they are stolen.

A 15-digit serial or IMEI number on each phone helps to identify your phone. You can find out the number by looking behind the battery of your phone or by keying *#06# into most models of phone.

This number could help police to trace a stolen phone more quickly. "For example, if we've got a person in the cells with a phone and they say that it is theirs we can check by using the serial number," said DC Mather.

The Home Office has produced a leaflet entitled Protect Your Phone, available from crime prevention officers at Blackpool police, which suggests further steps to help you safeguard phones from thieves.

They include:

Always using the security lock code or PIN number on your phone.

Marking phone and battery with your postcode and street number, or the first two letters of your house name, in permanent marker.

Registering phones with the operator. If you report your phone as stolen, the operator should then be able to bar the SIM card.

Being aware of your surroundings when using your phone -- do not use it in crowded areas or anywhere that you feel unsafe.

Not displaying your phone in public view. Keep it with you all the time and don't leave it unattended.

Mobile phone owners can take their phones to be security marked at the mobile police station, which will be set up on Central Car Park from Good Friday to Easter Monday this year, staffed by volunteers from the Community Safety Project. Volunteers will be marking phones and batteries -- with the date and post code -- with ultra violet pens.

Volunteers will also be handing out leaflets and information on preventing thefts from cars.

For more information or to get a Protect Your Phone leaflet -- with a press-out section to record your phone details -- contact crime prevention officers at Blackpool Central Police Station on (01253) 607244.