You should only bring a phone if you are doing live reporting, and if you are reporting you should not do any crimes, and you should not film anyone doing any crimes. If you are reporting, make sure you have a robust support network to look after you if you ever get taken into custody. If someone like Robert Evans gets locked up, tens of thousands of people will be providing scrutiny. Someone with a smaller network can easily slip through the cracks. Keep in mind you are making yourself a target and taking on risk. If you're not doing live reporting, stick to an ordinary camera.

Otherwise, leave it at home. Write down one or two emergency contact numbers, or better yet - memorize them. Some people recommend to write phone numbers on your skin in case you are taken into custody and separated from your possessions, but if you do this, write it somewhere where it can't be seen - like on your stomach or ankles. Don't put it on your wrist so you can be easily identified. Print out a map if you need directions, and leave the phone at home. If you are going with a group, stay together. Establish rally points if you get separated.

If you anticipate being split up, you should use radios instead of phones. Radios are less reliable than phones. They require a line of sight to work properly, since there is no tower to relay your call - but if they are confiscated, lost, or abandoned, they contain no personal information. They emit no signal whatsoever unless you press the PTT button, and thus, can't be used to track you unless you run your mouth. You can get a Baofeng for 35 dollars.

Keep in mind, the police can hear everything. In light of this article, this would appear to be moot though. You should maintain radio silence unless you have vital information to pass along, and you should refer to rally points and individuals using codenames.