The Delhi Metro Police have successfully recovered 450 stolen mobile phones valued at over Rs 1 crore through their “Mission Reconnect—Your Phone’s Journey Back Home” initiative, launched on January 30, 2024. Of the recovered devices, 201 have been returned to their rightful owners. The initiative complements India’s broader efforts to combat mobile device theft through the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR), a national database system that tracks and blocks stolen devices using IMEI numbers.
The program employs technical experts who use e-FIR data and surveillance to trace stolen devices, while field operatives work to apprehend offenders. A court facilitation unit has been established to reduce the legal burden on victims by enabling virtual court appearances. The approach follows successful implementations in other Indian cities, such as Pune’s recent recovery of 456 lost mobile phones through digital tracking systems.
To address the cross-state nature of mobile theft, the police appointed an inspector in each state to coordinate with local law enforcement. A dedicated Reconnecting Unit coordinates the swift return of recovered devices either at police stations or directly to owners’ residences.
At a ceremony held on February 21, 2024, at Utsav Sadan, New Police Lines, Kingsway Camp, 201 mobile phones were formally returned to victims. “The initiative combines advanced technology with coordinated field operations to not only recover stolen mobile phones but also ensure their prompt and hassle-free return,” said DCP Metro Hareshwar Swami.
Joint CP (Transport Range) Vijay Singh detailed the operational approach, noting that “technical experts use e-FIR data and surveillance to trace stolen devices, while field operatives work to apprehend offenders.”
In a related investigation, police recovered 171 phones from three suspects involved in unauthorized fund transfers using stolen mobile phones. The investigation revealed that criminal gangs had trained minors to exploit weak passwords, particularly common combinations like “123456,” to access victims’ UPI IDs and transfer funds to various accounts. The security breach highlights the importance of recent initiatives by the National Payments Corporation of India to strengthen UPI security measures, including the implementation of more robust authentication requirements. These operations reportedly processed approximately 12,000 devices and generated illegal proceeds exceeding Rs 12 lakh.
Sources: Times of India, Economic Times, The Tribune, The Week
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