Anakapalle police recover stolen/lost mobile phones worth `1.2 cr

Visakhapatnam: The Anakapalle district police has recovered 625 stolen and lost mobile phones, valued at approximately Rs 1.2 crore. These recovered mobiles were handed over to their rightful owners by Anakapalle SP Tuhin Sinha in Anakapalle town on Tuesday. According to Anakapalle district police chief Tuhin Sinha, the district police have so far recovered 3,336 stolen and lost mobile phones worth around Rs 5.3 crore, all of which have been returned to the owners.The police urged the public to utilise the CEIR portal: [https://www.ceir.gov.in](https://www.ceir.gov.in) or send "Hi" to the WhatsApp number 9346912007 if they lose their mobile phones. Authorities cautioned both the public and mobile phone shop owners against purchasing phones from strangers or without proper documentation.Since the launch of police services for mobile phone recovery, Anakapalle district police have received 5,600 complaints regarding lost or stolen mobile phones, out of which 3,336 have been recovered and returned in ten separate phases.The police stated that some recovered phones were traced in neighboring districts and a few in neighbouring states. SP Tuhin Sinha mentioned that, due to the high number of thefts, a dedicated special cell has been established to streamline the recovery procedure.The police said that if a mobile phone is lost, visiting a police station is not necessary to lodge a complaint; individuals should send details of the lost mobile phone online. Additionally, the police advised the public to be wary of fraudsters attempting to sell phones at public places such as bus stands and railway stations, warning that such purchases may lead to legal complications and financial loss.