This content was created by Robert Siciliano. This content was uploaded by Robert Siciliano. This is a YouTube video titled "Protect Your Phones from Cell Phone Theft" (uploaded 2025-09-03T20:09:42Z). It is a news/reporting segment (NBC Boston) featuring live reporting by Michael Rosenfeld, interviews with members of the public, and commentary from personal/cybersecurity expert Robert Siciliano. The segment covers a spike in cell phone thefts outside Boston bars and clubs (Fenway, Back Bay, Seaport), describes common tactics (snatching while waiting for rides, offering to take photos, shoulder surfing to capture passcodes), and offers prevention advice (use crossbody bags, be aware of surroundings, lock/wipe devices remotely).
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I'm Robert Siciliano, and I'm a personal security expert.
Police in Boston, they are urging the club crowd to be careful with their cell phones. Too many night owls are becoming victims of cell phone thefts outside Boston bars and clubs. NBC 10's Michael Rosenfeld is live for us downtown. He's got the warning from law enforcement. Michael.
Hey, Colton. Yeah, most of us don't think twice about using our cell phones out in public, responding to a text message or an email or posting something on social media. Police say that has led to an uptick in some crime.
It's a low-tech crime with high-tech consequences. Boston Police warning about a spike in cell phone thefts, swiping phones from people's hands.
I always feel it's best to put my phone in my bag and have like a crossbody bag because I feel like it's less easy for people to access my phone or like grab it from me. And I always make sure to like hold tight onto it if it's not in my bag.
It's primarily happening late at night between 11:30 PM and 2 AM as people leave bars and nightclubs downtown, in the Fenway, Back Bay, and the Seaport.
If I'm with like a group of friends, I'm like, sometimes I'll be on it because that way, like, you know, there's strength in numbers. I know there's going to be people around and I know I'm protected.
Investigators say suspects are stealing people's cell phones as they wait for their Uber or Lyft, or offer to take their photos, or old-fashioned pickpocketing, or using verbal or physical threats.
I've actually never had a thought come to my mind that someone's going to steal my phone, not once. I I walk around very carelessly with my cell phone and with very big headphones on, so someone came up behind me, I just probably would not even— wouldn't even think about it.
So you're a target?
I guess I am a target.
And once someone gets their hands on a phone, they use it to make a financial transaction on apps like Venmo, PayPal, Apple Pay, Cash App, cryptocurrency wallets, and even betting apps like DraftKings. Suspects are also trying to steal passcodes over your shoulder.
The thieves are engaging in what we call shoulder surfing. So they're watching you punch your passcode into your phone, and when they see you punch your passcode into your phone, now they have full access to that device once they steal it from you.
Cybersecurity expert Robert Siciliano says if it happens, try to shut your phone down remotely.
You can lock it and you can wipe it so that whoever's on it or has it can't do anything with it.
Police say never hand your phone over to a stranger and always be aware of your surroundings so that nobody comes up to you and snatches your phone right from your hands. I'm downtown, Michael Rosenfield, NBC 10 Boston.
