How to avoid losing your smart phone

Crooks aren't to blame for most smart phones that go missing, but owners are, a new survey has revealed.

A staggering 70 percent of people have lost a cell phone or other mobile device, according to a global study by Mozy, a Seattle data-protection firm. Only 18 percent of those gadgets were reported stolen.

You can't predict where or when you'll lose a phone, but there are peak periods, according to Mozy: Commuter hours-8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.-are peak times. July and December are peak months. And Fridays and Saturdays are peak days, the Huffington Post reported.

Buses, subways, commuter railroads, and taxis are collectively are the most likely places that people and their devices part ways. To keep your smart phone from disappearing, don't place it on an empty seat next to you, and before you prepare to get off public transport, stow it safely in clothing or in your briefcase, backpack, or pocketbook.

Airports are crowded, and it's common for travelers to be distracted and weighed down with stuff. This combination creates the perfect situation for a phone to be lost or stolen. Leaving it at the security check-in or in the seat pocket on the plane are common ways that people lose phones.

Many of customers treat restaurant tables like a desk, leaving the phone or tablet strewn about. Bad idea if you don't want to leave it behind or have it grabbed by sticky fingers (not to mention spill a glass of water on it).

Ever place your phone on the counter at the cash register, or take it with you into a dressing room? Those are two typical spots for people to leave it or have it swiped.