The Chatham-Kent Police Service is renewing its call for cell phone owners to lock their mobile phones before sliding them into their pockets.

The emergency call centre received 17 hang-up 911 calls recently within a 24-hour period.

Police ask citizens to remain on the line should a caller accidentally dial 911.

The dispatch operator must determine if police need to respond, and will assume there’s an emergency sending police if the caller hangs-up.

Authorities say 911 hang-up and pocket calls consume considerable resources.