Question : Theft of Mobile Phones

(a) whether cases of theft of mobile phones have been reported in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the total number of such cases reported during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise including NCT of Delhi;

(c) whether theft of mobile phones has become a major challenge for law enforcement agencies particularly due to national security implications attached to it;

(d) if so, whether the Government is considering to make it mandatory for registering FIRs registered for each theft of mobile phone/handset and immediately blocking it to prevent its misuse by antisocial elements and if so the details thereof;

(e) whether attention of the Government has been drawn towards action not being taken by the State Police and Delhi police in most of the cases of mobile theft registered in various police stations despite IMEI number provided by the complainant; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard along with the advisories issued to the States and police departments to track stolen mobile phones immediately through tracking system?

Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs
(SHRI HARIBHAI PARTHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (f): National Crime Records Bureau has started collecting data on mobile phones stolen since 2014. As per available data, State/UT wise (including NCT of Delhi) cases registered and number of mobile phones stolen and recovered during 2014 is enclosed at Annexure.
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LS.US.Q.NO.3582. For 11.08.2015

Further, National Telecom Policy 2012 provides for facilitating establishment of a National Mobile Property Registry for addressing security, theft and other concerns including reprogramming of mobile handsets. Further, the individuals are at liberty to file an FIR or report of loss of the handset /SIM, thereby to prevent the cause of its misuse. An Advisory to States/UTs was issued on 5-2-2014 for the Compulsory Registration of FIR u/s 154 Cr.P.C when the information makes out a cognizable offence, which would also cover the above. Police promptly registers FIR in all cases, where the Mobile Phones have reportedly been stolen. The complainant is also advised to inform the Service Provider to block the SIM to prevent misuse. The Investigating Officer makes necessary efforts to track and recover the stolen mobile phones. These include contacting the service providers, ascertaining the user details of the number on which the handset is activated subsequent to this theft and visiting the address mentioned in the subscriber form. The technical knowhow pertaining to IMEI number of a stolen mobile phone is available only with the service providers and necessary follow-up of a painstaking kind is done with the service providers to scan and work upon the IMEI numbers of stolen phones, in order to trace them. Zonal Integrated Police Network (ZIPNET) has been provided which contains the details (IMEI numbers) of lost/stolen mobile handsets. Citizen are advised to check the list of stolen/list mobile handsets on the ZIPNET before purchasing a pre-owned mobile phone.

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