Learn how to protect your phone from being lost or stolen

UPDATE: 6:25 p.m.

Along with computers, Daniel Algazi said he also has helped people at his store, DA Computers in Palm Springs, trying to recover missing phones.

“It’s a combination of lost phones, like people leave their phones at a bar or a restaurant, or they get their phones stolen,” Algazi said. “Back in the day, people used to steal laptops at airports, and that was a big crime case. Well, technology has jumped 10 years into the future now. Now, laptops are mini-phones.”

Phones have also been a target this year at the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, after police officers said more than 100 phones were stolen during last weekend’s festival.

“My buddy got his phone stolen last weekend, just pickpocketed,” Kyler Tabor said on his way to attending this weekend of the music festival. “You’ll put your phone in your backpack, and you’ll be dancing or whatever, and someone will just take it out of your backpack. Just real quick when you’re not paying attention.”

But officers said one tool used to help find the phones was the “Find my iPhone” app.

It’s an option Algazi and his team have helped install on devices, keeping them secure.

“That type of security allows you to track your phone, lock your phone, offer an award for your phone,” Algazi said. “Also, you can ping your phone and find out where it is in a general location.”

Along with the alert that can be used to help find phones, he said users can also through the app put a separate number in, that can be used to help track the missing phone.”

“You can control your phone, or portions of your phone, from a different device,” he said. “So, I can log in to a computer, and I can control the phone from a computer, where I can lock the phone and put a message on the phone telling a person, or whoever finds the phone, that if you return this phone, you get a $50 reward.”

It’s technology, Algazi said, will help many out, along with people keeping a closer eye on their phones.

“You’ve got to remember, your phones retail brand new for like $1,200,” Algazi said. “You wouldn’t leave $1,200 sitting on a table.”

For more information and tips on how to protect your phones, click the links below in the earlier version of this article.

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ORIGINAL STORY: 4:20 p.m.

With the second weekend of the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival upon us, KESQ and CBS Local 2’s Zak Dahlheimer is looking into the best ways to protect your phone from being lost or stolen.

It’s a scenario that anyone with a cell phone may have to deal with at one time or another, but it’s a timely reminder after a man was arrested on suspicion of stealing over 100 cell phones during the first weekend of the festival.

Zak Dahlheimer met with technology experts on Friday to learn some tips you can use to protect your digital devices from thieves. You can watch his report KESQ News Channel 3 CBS Local 2 at 5:30 p.m. and on KESQ News Channel 3 at 6 p.m.

How to track and find your missing Apple device How to track and find your missing Android device Also, be sure to check out Kelley Moody’s special report that will teach you how to Defeat Digital Spies, on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. on CBS Local 2.