City police recover 267 stolen phones, return them to owners

In the eight months, she switched jobs, went back to Bengaluru and returned to city only a week ago to visit her relatives. But little did she expect that she would receive a call from the Thousand Lights police station, where she had lodged a complaint about her stolen mobile phone, that she can collect her phone as it has been traced. 

Hari Prasath of Avadi, who works at Sathyam Cinemas, lost his phone worth Rs 17,000 while travelling on an MTC bus 11 months ago. He later had bought a phone for Rs 8,000. On Sunday, Triplicane Deputy Commissioner handed over his phone without much damages. “He bought the phone last Deepavali and lost it within two months. This Deepavali, he got the same phone back,” said Hariprasath’s wife Selvi. 

Not just them, a total of 267 people who lost their phones in Triplicane police district received them back after the

tracked them down as part of a special drive to recover stolen mobile phones. Though a few police stations have already returned some of the stolen phones to their owners, this is the first time that as many as 267 stolen phones have been returned to respective owners.

Though Uma Maheshwari could afford to buy another phone after the device was stolen, she added that it was heartening to see several people like delivery boys and drivers getting back their phone. Many of them had bought their phones on loans and struggled to pay EMIs even after losing them to snatchers. “Smartphone has become an important part of our lives and it has all your data. So, getting back a stolen phone is an inexplicable feeling. Though it was delayed, the city police have done an incredible job,” she said.

The Anna Square crime inspector Prasitha Deepan said that the stolen mobile phones were retrieved from other parts of the state and neighbouring states like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and even from West Bengal. “I request those buying used mobile phones from shops to demand a receipt and the contact number of its previous owner. They can also check at the nearby police station to ensure that the phone they are buying is not a stolen property,”she said.

Triplicane Deputy Commissioner Selvan Nagarathinam who gave away the phones to the owners used the opportunity to pitch for installation of CCTV cameras and explained how the footage can help police crack several cases. Sources also said that 92 stolen phones in Adyar police district have also been recovered and will be given back to the owners at the Taramani policestation soon.