It’s summer. Are you aware of where your cellphoneIs it?

This is not an absurd question, given recent findings that mobile phones are stolen, lost, or damaged more often in July, July, and August than in any other month of the year. July holds the top spot.

“People are outdoors, active and so busy enjoying themselves that they’re not always as careful as they should be,”Bettie Colombo, Asurion’s global leader in consumer technology protection services, spotted the rise in insurance claims.

With the “stolen”This alone has convinced law enforcement officials that smartphones are The New ATMs to criminals. According to data released last year by the Federal Communications Commission, between 30 and 40 percent of all major U.S. cities robberies involved the violent theft of phones. You can see why you might want your beach bag checked right away.

These are some valuable tips:

* Buy a waterproof case. People say that the pool or beach should be a place for relaxation. Are there friends who are eager to see pictures of you playing water volleyball with your friends? Cnet.com says that a case can’t be waterproof unless it is water-resistant. “can be fully submerged underwater for at least 30 minutes.”

* Stay alert. Everybody can be a target of thieves. “so sophisticated,”Eric Schneiderman, New York Attorney General, says that stolen smartphones are being “exported to other countries.”You don’t have to make life easier for them by using your phone in public places and chatting on it.

* Use a screen protector. A single thin layer of film can protect your phone’s touch screen from being scratched.

* Enroll in cell phone protection from your wireless carrier. Annually, 80 million smartphones are stolen, damaged or lost. You can save money on your monthly insurance premium by paying a small deductible and getting a replacement phone as soon as possible.

* Use a password. One in three people uses a password to unlock their phones. “If it is stolen,”Colombo “that’s at least your first defense against identity theft.”

A final warning about the aforementioned “sticker shock.”When you sign a contract with a wireless carrier, smartphones are heavily subsidized by them. You should not insure your smartphone with a reputable company like Asurion.www.asurion.comIf you needed to replace the Apple iPhone 5 with 64 gigabytes memory that you purchased for $400, it would cost you around $850.