Bapatla district Superintendent of Police B. Umamaheswar verifying the recovered mobiles before handing them to their owners on Monday.
| Photo Credit: BY ARRANGEMENT
The Bapatla district police handed over 251 recovered mobile phones to their owners during the seventh phase of the special mobile phone recovery programme on Monday, taking the total number of phones recovered so far to 1,572.
Superintendent of Police (SP) B. Umamaheswar handed over the phones at the district police headquarters. The 1,572 phones recovered in seven phases are estimated to be worth ₹3.14 crore, while the 251 phones recovered in the latest phase are valued at ₹50.20 lakh.
Mr. Umamaheswar said that a special team comprising technically skilled police personnel had been formed to trace the lost phones in coordination with the local police. The team also coordinated with police departments in other districts and States to recover the phones. Nearly 72% of the phones that were reported lost have been recovered, he said.
The SP urged people to register details of lost phones on the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal or approach the nearest police station for assistance.
He cautioned the public against buying suspicious second-hand phones from strangers, particularly those without bills or ownership documents. Buying or selling stolen phones is a criminal offence, the SP warned. He also urged mobile shop operators to verify bills and identity documents before purchasing used phones or unlocking devices.
Published – September 07, 2026 06:31 pm IST
