Bhubaneswar: In a major crackdown on mobile phone theft, the Bhubaneswar-Kataka Commissionerate Police on Monday returned 375 stolen mobile phones to their rightful owners after recovering them during a series of coordinated operations.
Police arrested an accused, identified as Mohammad Saif Ali from Malda district in West Bengal, and suspect his involvement in an inter-state mobile phone theft racket.
Addressing a press conference, Commissioner of Police Dr. Suresh Dev Datta Singh said the recovered handsets were verified before being returned to their bona fide owners. Around 150 people collected their mobile phones on Monday, while the remaining owners will be contacted to receive their devices.
“The mobile phones were recovered during simultaneous operations carried out by multiple police stations under the Commissionerate. The accused was arrested in connection with the theft cases, and several stolen handsets were seized from his possession,” Singh said.
Police said nearly 150 mobile phones were reported stolen during the recent Puri Rath Yatra, when lakhs of devotees thronged the pilgrim town. Preliminary investigation suggests that the accused allegedly brought the stolen devices to Bhubaneswar after the thefts.
The Commissioner said police are verifying the accused’s residential details and investigating his alleged links to an organised inter-state gang involved in mobile phone theft. Efforts are underway to identify and apprehend other members of the network.
Appealing to the public to remain vigilant, Singh said crowded places, particularly buses, festivals, and religious gatherings such as the Rath Yatra, are often targeted by pickpockets and mobile phone thieves.
He urged commuters and devotees to keep a close watch on their belongings and immediately report any suspicious activity or theft to the nearest police station.
