Sathya Sai police recover 141 stolen phones worth ₹29 lakh in 45 days

Sri Sathya Sai District Superintendent of Police S. Satish Kumar handed over 141 lost and stolen mobile phones, worth around ₹29 lakh, to the rightful owners at a programme held at the District Police Office in Puttaparthi on Monday (July 6, 2026).

The SP said that the phones were traced within 45 days using the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal, IMEI tracking and other advanced technical tools. The district police had recovered and returned a total of 270 mobile phones during the past five months, he added.

Satish Kumar appealed to the public to remain vigilant when carrying mobile phones in crowded places, including markets, bus stations, and public transport, and advised them to immediately report missing devices to the nearest police station or the CEIR portal. He also warned against buying or selling second-hand phones without proper ownership documents.