1,100 lost phones worth ₹3.30 crore recovered and returned to owners by Cyberabad police

Cyberabad police recover 1,100 stolen phones worth ₹3.30 crore, returned to owners, highlighting importance of CEIR portal.

The Cyberabad police recovered 1,100 stolen or lost mobile phones worth ₹3.30 crore, which were returned to their original owners during an event at the Cyberabad Commissionerate office on Tuesday (December 10, 2024). Many, including a woman who was still paying EMIs for her lost phone, expressed their happiness on receiving their devices back.

These mobile phones were recovered in the past 45 days using the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal. Of the 1,100 phone, 235 were recovered by Madhapur Central Crime Station (CCS), 203 by Balanagar CCS, 185 by Medchal CCS, 166 by Rajendranagar CCS, 151 by Shamshabad CCS while 185 were belonged to the Medchal zone.

The Medchal police recovered 50 phones followed by Balanagar police which recovered 32. And, 12 devices were recovered by Shamshabad police, eight by Rajendranagar police while seven were recovered by the Madhapur police. A total of 60 devices were traced by the IT cell.

“Mobile theft remains a persistent issue, often exploited by cybercriminals to access sensitive information, including bank account details. Despite high levels of education, many people remain unaware of how to prevent their stolen devices from being misused,” DCP Crimes K. Narasimha said.

Since the implementation of the CEIR portal, the Cyberabad police have recovered a total of 7,500 mobile phones, of which 5,500 were traced this year alone. The official stressed that the use of the CEIR portal can prevent the misuse of stolen phones and ensures quicker recovery.

Media campaigns, Social media outreach and community engagement have been instrumental in educating people about mobile theft prevention and cyber fraud. The official also stressed the importance of installing CCTV cameras in residential and commercial areas to deter thefts and assist in tracking offenders.