According to a survey of 3,500 people from across Britain, Cambridge has the 10th worst record for phone thefts, with one in five of those questioned claiming to have had a phone stolen in the city.

Of those who responded to the poll, 37 per cent said their phones had been stolen at pubs or clubs, 10 per cent had lost their phones at work, and 9 per cent had been targeted by thieves and pickpockets in the street.

"Most people rarely leave home without their mobile phone, so it's vital always to be on guard for opportunists - especially if you are talking on the phone whilst walking in the street, or have it on show in a pub or club."

While Cambridge was named as the 10th worst city in the UK for phone theft, Glasgow topped the poll, with one in three of those questioned claiming to have had a phone stolen.

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire police said the force did not keep records detailing the number of phone thefts in the county, but urged people who used mobiles to take sensible precautions.

He said: "We would echo the advice given by the company which carried out this survey, that people with mobile phones should be careful, especially if they are using their phone in the street.

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