Cyberabad police recover 1,100 stolen, lost mobile phones worth Rs 3.30 crores in 45 days

Hyderabad: In a major breakthrough, the Cyberabad Police have successfully recovered 1,100 stolen and lost mobile phones worth Rs 3.30 crores over the past 45 days. The recovery was possible using the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal.

The phones were returned to their owners in a formal event on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, DCP Crimes K Narasimha, IPS, stated, “With mobile phones playing an essential role in our daily lives, this recovery drive underscores the Cyberabad Police’s commitment to protecting citizens from cybercrimes. 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.”

“In the past 45 days, Cyberabad Police have recovered 1,100 mobile phones. Among them, 235 were recovered by Madhapur CCS, 203 by Balanagar CCS, 185 by Medchal CCS, 166 by Rajendranagar CCS, 151 by Shamshabad CCS, 185 by Medchal Zone, 7 by Madhapur L&O, 50 by Medchal L&O, 23 by Balanagar L&O, 8 by Rajendranagar L&O, 12 by Shamshabad L&O and 60 by the IT Cell,” the DCP said.

He further added, “Since the implementation of the CEIR portal, it has facilitated the recovery of 7,500 mobile phones, including 5,500 devices this year alone. We urge citizens to take precautions, such as securing their devices and being cautious of fraud calls or suspicious online links commonly used by criminals to defraud victims.”

Don’t fear or panic in case of digital arrests

The DCP said the citizens need not fear digital arrests or panic in response to fraud calls, investment scams or other cybercrimes. He urged everyone to stay vigilant, verify information and report suspicious activities to Cyberabad Police, ensuring a safe digital environment.

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

Importance of CEIR portal

The DCP encouraged the public to report lost or stolen mobile phones at their nearest police station or through the CEIR portal, which is available nationwide across all States and Union Territories. He stressed that the use of the CEIR portal can prevent the misuse of stolen phones and ensure a quicker recovery. For cybercrimes, he urged citizens to dial 1930 or visit cybercrime.gov.in, and file a complaint as soon as possible after the theft.

Phone owners hail recovery process

Several people at the event shared their stories and thanked the Cyberabad Police for helping them get their lost phones back.

One man explained how he lost his phone at a bus stop and filed a complaint at the nearest police station that help recover the phone. He never thought it would be found, but to his surprise, he got a call from the police saying they had recovered it. He was very happy and grateful.

A centring worker said he lost his phone, worth Rs 20,000, and thought it was gone for good. When the police returned it to him, he was overjoyed and thanked them for their help.

Another woman shared that she was still paying EMIs for her lost phone, which had become a big financial burden. She was relieved and happy to get her phone back and thanked the police for their efforts.

The recovery was done under the leadership of DCP Crimes K Narasimha, IPS, the CCS, IT Cell, CCRB, CAT and social media teams utilising the CEIR portal.

DCP Crimes K. Narasimha, IPS, extended his appreciation to CCRB, ACP Crimes Kalinga Rao, CCS ACP K Shashank Reddy, IT Cell Inspector Anjaneyulu, Rajendranagar CCS Inspector Prashanth, Shamshabad CCS Inspector Pavan, Madhapur CCS Inspector Sanjay Kumar, Balanagar CCS Inspector Raju, along with the ASIs, Head Constables, Women Police Constables, and the IT Cell, CCRB and CCS teams for their outstanding efforts in the recovery operation.