More than 3,500 mobile phones were stolen in the region last year

West Midlands Police is working with mobile phone retailers to stop phones working once they are reported stolen.

The initiative includes an advertising campaign, paid for by mobile phone companies, with the message "Stolen Mobile Phones Don't Work."

Government minister Lord Rooker launched the "Immobilise Phone Crime" campaign at the Midland Sports Centre in Tile Hill.

Working together

Mobile phone networks will share information on a single database and once a phone is reported stolen or lost, they will be blocked across all UK networks within minutes.

The phones will not work even if the SIM card has been changed.

West Midlands Police say last year 38% of all robberies in the area involved stealing mobile phones.

Anthony Fennell, 14, is a victim of crime of mobile phone crime.

He said: "I was on the phone to my dad and some kid ran past me and took my phone off me.

"He punched me about five times, him and his brother."

'Prison possibility'

Deputy Chief Constable Chris Sim said the new initiative is the first time the police, government and mobile phone industry have worked together.

"Within the West Midlands there has been a major fall in the number of robberies but it is still the case that over a third of these robberies involve mobile phones so it is still a problem.

"We hope this campaign will raise people's knowledge that once a mobile has been stolen it is effectively useless," he said.

"Why risk the possibility of being sent to prison for robbery for something that does not work?"