Mumbai A large network of mobile theft has been detected in Mumbai. According to the news of news channel NDTV, Mumbai Police investigation found that thieves in the metropolis steal phones and sell them in Bangladesh after changing their IMEI. In Mumbai, from January to September 2025, the police had received information about theft or loss of 39257 mobile phones through Sanchar Sathi portal. Whereas, in 2024, 57098 mobile phones were stolen or missing in Mumbai.
Mumbai Police has recently returned 27000 stolen mobile phones to their owners. By tracking CEIR and IMEI, Mumbai Police has identified the location of stolen or lost mobile phones more effectively than ever before. Mumbai Police is recovering mobile phones not only in Maharashtra but also in other states. Recently, the sixth unit of the crime branch had raided a mobile repairing shop in Powai area. Two people were arrested there and several stolen mobile phones were recovered. According to Mumbai Police, the accused in this shop used to change the IMEI number of mobile phones and then sell them.
Mumbai Police investigation revealed that mobile thieves move to Bangladesh to go beyond the reach of CEIR. Samsung, Oppo and Vivo phones are in high demand in Bangladesh. Mumbai’s Chunabhatti police station arrested eight people and recovered 183 mobile phones from their possession. The value of the recovered mobile phone was more than Rs 30 lakh. According to Mumbai Police, mobile phones were stolen and repaired. Then by changing the IMEI they were sent to Bangladesh. Boats were also used as a means of carrying out this work. This racket of people stealing mobile phones and selling them in Bangladesh was active for about nine months.
If your mobile is stolen or lost, you can complain about it on the Sanchar Sathi portal. You will have to provide the IMEI number of the mobile phone along with the complaint. Apart from this, ID proof, mobile bill and copy of FIR also have to be uploaded. So that the phone can be blocked. The facility of phone block is provided through CEIR i.e. Central Equipment Identity Register. If you are buying a second hand mobile, then by entering its IMEI number on Sanchar Sathi portal, you can also find out whether it is stolen or not.
