Mobile phone ownership in UK had risen to 81% in 2012/13 when compared to 2005/06 and so has mobile phone theft, with 740,000 individuals falling victim to theft.
A report published by UK Home Office analysed data of crime survey in Wales and England found that the crime rate has fallen 10% during the period while mobile phone theft cases account for less than 2%.
Apples iPhone topped target of thieves by accounting for 50% of the stolen device, followed by BlackBerry accounting for 20% and Samsung.
After the launch of iOS 7, iPhone theft has dropped considerably due to the fingerprint sensor and new apps that facilitates mobile phone tracking.
The report stated: "This helps the police to identify you as the owner if it is recovered and allows you to keep a record of your IMEI number, which you will need if your mobile is lost or stolen."
The survey revealed that in 37% of the cases, the phones were stolen in public places, and 30% went missing in pubs and bars, while 19% were stolen from workplace.
About 40% of users reported that their phones were lost when unattended; while 11% claimed theft from person and 10% claimed it to be robbery.
