From street thieves to resellers: Delhi Police to step up action against mobile theft network

Sources said that the directive comes in the backdrop of stolen phones increasingly linked to a larger criminal economy. “Beyond their monetary value, they contain sensitive personal data – financial information, photographs, conversations, and access to social media accounts – making them tools for fraud, identity theft, and cybercrime. Mobile theft is no longer just theft, it is a gateway to much larger crimes,” a senior officer said.

Sources emphasised that the directive comes as the illegal trade is not confined to Delhi and that stolen phones are “routinely smuggled” across state and international borders, with established routes leading to West Bengal, Bihar, Nepal, and Bangladesh. To disrupt these channels, sources said, coordinated operations and interstate surprise checks have now been mandated. “… including inspections of inter-state buses travelling toward Nepal, Bihar, and neighbouring states. Bus conductors and transport staff are being brought into the intelligence network as key sources of information,” a source said.

Sources said that police have identified key hubs where stolen devices are funnelled, altered, and reintroduced into the market. “Karol Bagh, in particular, has emerged as a major centre where stolen phones are subjected to IMEI manipulation before being resold, making them difficult to trace,” a source said. Simultaneously, sources said, “systemic reforms” will be introduced to strengthen recovery and return mechanisms.

“Police are using CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Register) data to track stolen phones, and these recovery efforts are being used to measure how well different districts are performing. Special teams are working together across different areas, sharing resources and using information about phone locations and tracking to find and recover the devices,” a source said. Sources said as part of recovery efforts, Police Headquarters staff will also be deployed on a rotational basis – potentially once a week – for specialised mobile recovery drives.

“Efforts are also underway to simplify SOPs, making them more practical for field-level officers. Successful models such as inter-state teams deployed in high-risk regions are being shared as best practices across districts,” the directive states.

Sources said that emphasis has also been placed on what happens after a phone is recovered. “Authorities have been asked to set up a clear and faster process for unblocking these phones so they can be returned quickly to their rightful owners,” a source said.

“Efforts are also underway to simplify Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), making them more practical for field-level officers. Successful models such as inter-state teams deployed in high-risk regions are being shared as best practices across districts, creating a more unified and efficient response,” the directive states.

Sources said that emphasis has also been placed on what happens after a phone is recovered. “Authorities have been asked to set up a clear and faster process for unblocking these phones so they can be returned quickly to their rightful owners. This includes using legal options like superdari. For victims, this means moving away from long delays and getting their phones back sooner,” a source said.