POLICE are urging mobile phone owners to keep a close eye on their property, after they found that five handsets are reported stolen every day in York.

Officers investigating means of cutting "volume crime" discovered that 429 mobile phones were reported stolen in York over the past 90 days.

Sergeant Colin Ventress, of York Police, said 100 of those phones were reported stolen from licensed premises in the city. He added that of another 197 reported lost, only 17 were returned.

"We are asking mobile phone users to exercise caution, particularly when using their phone in busy pubs and clubs," he said.

Officers have also teamed up with four nightclubs in the city to help cut the number of false theft reports. Night-spot bosses have agreed to inform the police of mobile phones they find and return to owners.

They are also asking phone users to record their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI).

This unique number will help the police identify a phone and enable networks to block the SIM card and prevent unauthorised use.

PC Richard Gatecliffe, of York Police, said stolen mobile phones are a popular "currency" for criminals and are often used to organise illegal activity, including burglary and drug dealing.

Chris Bateman, assistant manager of York nightclub Ikon and Diva, said a small number of mobile phones are found at his premises each week.

He said: "We find nine out of ten lost phones here. It's not a problem with theft, it's more likely to be people misplacing them. The police were pleasantly surprised by the procedures we already have in place to deal with the problem."

He said The Gallery, in Clifford Street, and Toffs, in Toft Green, which were both run by the same parent company, Luminar Leisure, operated the same policy.

MOBILE phones are no longer just a useful accessory, but a way of life for some, with even babies recognising ring tones before they utter their first words. The findings, published by Professor Mike Hulne, of Henley Management College, also indicate that some users suffer panic attacks if they leave home without their phone. We asked York residents what their mobile means to them.

Jacob Mukherjee, 21, of Walmgate, said: "I simply couldn't live without it. It's like an extra limb. I can't arrange to meet my friends without it. It does everything. It's an alarm clock and a diary for me as well."

Elizabeth Wray, 27, of Acomb, said: "Its not that important to me, but it's a sad state of affairs when a baby can do that - it sums it all up."

Samantha Lyth, 37, of Huntington, said: "How important is my phone? On a scale of one to ten... one. If I'm at home then I want time to myself and don't want to be contacted. It's only for emergencies."

Michael Reed, 44, of South Bank, said: "I always get unexplained things happening on my phone, numbers that don't exist and strange phone calls. I put it down to the fact that I'm a spiritual medium."

Updated: 09:15 Saturday, June 26, 2004