Punjab Police have successfully traced and returned over 12,000 lost mobile phones to their owners in the past year, utilising technical and data analysis. The recoveries, estimated to be worth between Rs 15 to Rs 20 crore, were made possible through initiatives like the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR).
Gujarat Police have achieved the third position among major states in India for recovering stolen mobile phones, returning 53,564 devices to their rightful owners in the 2025-26 financial year. The Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) system, implemented by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), enables the blocking and recovery of lost or stolen mobile devices across telecom networks nationwide.
Delhi Police have dismantled an organised racket trafficking stolen mobile phones to Nepal, arresting two individuals and recovering 40 devices. The operation involved purchasing stolen phones in Delhi and selling them in Nepal for profit.
Delhi Police have arrested six suspects linked to a cross-border gang involved in mobile phone thefts across Delhi-NCR, with stolen devices allegedly smuggled into Bangladesh. The gang reportedly used minors to carry out the thefts in crowded areas.
Delhi Police have dismantled an interstate racket dealing in stolen mobile phones, arresting two individuals and seizing 83 high-end handsets.
The Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) of the department of telecommunications (DoT) has traced 285,000 lost or stolen mobile phones and blocked 680,000 devices since being launched. However, recoveries remain relatively low at 20,771 devices. According to government estimates, around 50,000 mobile phones are stolen every month in the country. Launched nationwide on May 16, the CEIR is a part of the DoT's Sanchar Saathi portal. It is the primary government platform aimed at protecting mobile phone users from various frauds such as identity theft, forged KYC, theft of mobile devices and banking frauds.
