In the last 12 months, about 2000 mobile phones were stolen by the thieves. SSP Prabhat Kumar on Monday revealed that between January 2022 and December 2022, about 2000 missing reports were received in the entire district. All the station in-charges were ordered to investigate these applications and take initiative. The result of that is that the mobile phones are being recovered. Some of these mobiles have also been recovered from Delhi and Sikkim.

District police today handed over 350 mobile phones that were lost or stolen and returned them to the rightful owners at a function in Sakchi police station.

Before distributing the mobiles to the owners, the SSP administered them an oath that they would wear a helmet while riding a bike and use a seat belt while driving a car. Along with this, the SSP also advised not to buy stolen mobiles.

The police also warned members of the public against purchasing cell phones without relevant documents. Following several complaints that were registered in several police stations in the district claiming that mobile phones were either stolen or lost, a special team was formed by the police to investigate the cases. The special team joined hands with the cybercrime unit to track and recover the lost and stolen mobile phones and seized over 500 mobile phones from people who did not have the relevant documents for owning them.

The police also issued a warning against those who buy mobile phones from suspicious people without proper receipts and said strict action would be initiated against them.

On 24 December 2022, 60 mobiles were distributed by organising a function in Bistupur. On Sunday itself, 93 mobiles were distributed after organizing a function in the Ghatshila police station premises. On Monday, 350 mobiles were distributed in Sakchi police station premises.

"There has been a spurt in petty crimes in the city.  We have been successful in arresting quite a few thieves involved in the reported cases but I think there is a need to ensure proper night watch. We are planning to increase the movement of mobile police and vigil," said an official.

Meanwhile, break-in in shops, thefts from scooter or motorcycle carriers and pick pocketing are at a high. Apart from such crimes, a number of residential complexes have also witnessed a spate of robberies