Two mobile technicians arrested for unlocking stolen phones for resale

Two mobile software technicians were arrested on Saturday for allegedly receiving stolen mobile phones and using advanced software tools to unlock them for resale, according to officials.

The accused, Mohd Jalal (29) of Loni in Ghaziabad district, Uttar Pradesh, and Imran (27) of Rajpur Khurd Extension, Delhi, allegedly ran a mobile repair and software servicing shop in Gaffar Market, Karol Bagh.

Police said the two operated ‘KGN Software & Mobile Repairing Institute’ and were involved in unlocking stolen smartphones for resale in the grey market.

Based on specific inputs, the police raided the shop. They recovered 45 intact Android smartphones, 22 mobile phone bodies, a laptop, and a Chinese-made AMP tool reportedly used to bypass factory reset protection and other security features.

“The accused failed to produce satisfactory ownership documents for the recovered devices. They were apprehended on Friday, and the electronic equipment was seized,” a police officer said. During questioning, the accused allegedly admitted to using specialised software and electronic tools to alter security settings of mobile phones obtained through suspicious sources, making it difficult for owners to trace their devices, police said.

Preliminary checks have linked seven of the recovered phones to theft and loss cases in Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, including incidents reported at Madhu Vihar, New Ashok Nagar, Mandawali, Ghazipur, Panipat, and Muzaffarnagar, highlighting the extent of the operation. IMEI analysis and coordination with police units in multiple states to identify their rightful owners and establish links with other theft cases, officials said.

Efforts are ongoing to trace the source of the stolen phones and identify other members of the network, including suppliers and receivers involved in the illegal trade, officials added. The police said the recovery could help solve multiple mobile phone theft cases reported across Delhi and neighbouring states, making the investigation significant for several pending cases. Further investigation is underway.