Surrey Mounties are urging smartphone owners to treat their pricey devices like a purse or wallet after a vicious theft left a man battered and bruised earlier this week.

A surveillance video showed the victim being followed by three assailants into his Surrey apartment building on Thursday.

One of the attackers punches the man in the head before the rest of the group jumps in, roughing up the victim then allegedly stealing his iPhone and fleeing.

“It’s pretty horrific. You’ve got an individual that’s just allowing somebody into their apartment building…and then suddenly they’re attacked from behind,” said Surrey RCMP spokesman Sgt. Dale Carr. “And over what? A cell phone. It’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Mounties are now telling the public to treat smartphone like you would any valuable item – and that means being aware of your surroundings and not prominently displaying the device when walking alone.

“Cell phones have become a very trendy thing to rob people of,” Carr said. “People that are in the business of taking cell phones are watching for the opportunity, and if you present that opportunity to them by being distracted, you’re going to become a victim.”

Carr also cautioned people selling phones on online classified sites like Craigslist to always meet with potential buyers in a public place.

TransLink has stepped up its campaign to warn riders to keep their smartphones hidden, especially when sitting near doors on transit.

Mounties are still trying to identify the attackers in the surveillance video.

Those with information are asked to contact Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502 or Crime Stoppers 1-800-222-8477.