Lost in London cabs 62,000 mobile phones and one girl
( 2001-08-31 10:49 ) (7 )

Lost your mobile phone, handheld computer, daughter? Chances are you left them in the back of a London cab.

An estimated 62,000 mobile phones or nearly three for each taxi in Britain's capital, were left behind in London cabs during the first six months of this year, a recent survey found.

The survey by Taxi Newspapers and British security software company Pointsec Mobile said cabbies also discovered 2,900 laptops and 1,300 handheld computers in their back seats.

But only half of the lost phones were claimed, with many owners betting their operating service would replace the lost phone with a new and better telephonic gadget.

Many mobile phone operating companies would rather give out new handsets than see their clients defect to rival services, which often try to lure customers by offering the latest mobile phones free for switching services.

The survey comes shortly after media reports that a bodyguard for Britain's Prince William lost his personal organiser, allegedly carrying some royal numbers, in a taxi.

A little girl was among a strange list of other items cabbies said they had found, including a goldfish in a water-filled bag, a suitcase full of diamonds and 2,000 pounds (US$2,900) in cash.