Police are urging people to keep their mobiles safe after a number of phone thefts in Canterbury.

Two iPhones and an LG Spirit phone have been stolen in recent days, each costing hundreds of pounds.

Officers are now advising people to be aware.

Sgt Lee Thompson said: “Thieves are usually opportunists who will take advantage of easy pickings and if phones are left unguarded they can easily become targets.

“Fortunately there are ways in which people can make it harder for these opportunist thieves.

“The best advice is not to keep phones in open bags or back pockets.”

The thefts include a brand new Apple iPhone 6S worth £619, which was stolen from the Post Office in St George’s Street at 4.30pm on Saturday.

The victim had left the phone in a carrier bag by his feet while he filled in a form.

"Smart phones can be high value but there is also the hassle factor of losing stored numbers, messages and pictures to consider..." - Sgt lee Thompson

A £500 Apple iPhone 5 was stolen from a club in the High Street in the early hours of Sunday.

The victim had left the phone in an unattended handbag.

And an LG Spirit phone worth £300 was stolen in Reed Avenue, Canterbury, at 10.10am on Monday. The phone had been left on the hood of her child’s pram.

It is believed it was stolen after it slipped off the pram hood onto the floor.

Sgt Thompson has now urged people to be aware of the potential for theft while using their mobiles out and about.

He said: “Our message is don’t give someone the chance to steal your phone.

“Make a note of the International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI) number, the unique reference number given to all phones.

“We need this when you report it stolen. It also enables us to return your phone if we do find it.”

The IMEI number is a 14 to 17 digit number which can usually be found on an identification sticker on the phone itself or by pressing *#06#.

Mobile phone thefts should also be reported to network providers so they can block the SIM card and handset, making the phone useless to the thief.

Sgt Thompson added: “Smart phones can be high value but there is also the hassle factor of losing stored numbers, messages and pictures to consider.

“But just by being a little more safety conscious people are less likely to fall prey to this type of crime.”