SERIAL numbers on mobile phones will be used to track down thieves, police revealed this week.

Phone owners are being urged to find out their unique phone serial number in a bid to tackle the increasing level of mobile phone thefts in the Chiltern Vale area.

PC John Oblein, crime reduction officer for Chiltern Vale Police, said it will help build up a database which will help police track down lost or stolen phones.

PC Oblein said: "Whether your property is of financial or sentimental value, the more ways we have to identify it, the more chance we have of proving the property has been stolen, of prosecuting the thieves and of being able to return the goods to their rightful owners."

He added: "The serial number will provide us with extremely valuable information."

Serial numbers are held in the handset and cannot be altered even if the SIM card is removed.

Mobile phone users can find out their unique handset number by keying in STAR, HASH, ZERO, SIX, HASH.

The number will then be displayed and owners are urged to write it down and keep it safe in case their phone is stolen so it can be returned to them if it is found.