CRIME bosses have warned people to keep details of their mobile phones handy.

Darlington Neighbourhood Watch bosses are offering cards that people can store in their wallets or purses, with their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number on them.

A spokesman for Neighbourhood Watch said: "If your mobile phone was lost or stolen would you have contact details for your service provider to hand? Do you have a record of your mobile phone IMEI number handy?

"Early contact with the service provider in the event of loss or theft, quoting the mobile telephone number together with IMEI details, enables a mobile to be reached, so that it cannot make or receive calls."

The Neighbourhood Watch office in Darlington has a number of the wallet-size reminder cards.

The IMEI code is usually on a phone, below the battery - and can also be obtained by dialling *#06# from a phone.

The Neighbourhood Watch office is in Gladstone House, Gladstone Street.