Despite the fact that in recent years a number of committed crimes in Russia has decreased in general due to the taken measures, crimes against property are still prevalent within the overall structures of crime and considered a major problem. Theft of cell phones has a special place in this structure. It is worth noting that although the cell phones have acquired many additional functions, in recent years they are no longer the luxury goods and are in the category of everyday things that are now necessary (and available) for almost all classes of citizens. An analysis of the market for cell phone sales in Russia shows that over the last years the number of cell phones has increased significantly, while in large Russian cities their number equaled the number of residents (which means 100 phones per 100 inhabitants). The author, on the basis of statistics, points out a clear trend of continued growth in sales of smartphones, as well as an expansion of the market for expensive devices. Based on data on crime situation generally the article further shows that theft make up more than half of all crimes committed. This number, of course, includes theft of cell phones, but due to the lack of data on this specific type of theft, it is difficult to determine where they stand in the overall picture. The author provides a classification of this type of crime according to the place and the ways these crimes are committed, illustrating them with the materials of particular criminal cases, and gives practical recommendations to mobile phone users that will reduce the risk of smartphone theft. Having studied the domestic and foreign (UK, USA) experience in the field of combating such crimes, the author examines a number of measures aimed at preventing cell phone theft. The author believes that the solution to these problems in particular may be the adoption of a law on the state database of mobile phones, as has already been done in some foreign countries.