Mobile phone lost or stolen? You will soon be able to track and block it
The Indian government is developing a portal that will allow users to track and block lost or stolen mobile phones. This new system aims to reduce the number of mobile phone thefts in the country. The platform will provide users with a database of lost or stolen phones so that they can be tracked and eventually recovered.
The portal is expected to be launched in December this year. It will be called the ‘Central Equipment Identity Register’ (CEIR) and will be accessible to all mobile phone users in India. The CEIR will be a national database of IMEI numbers, and service providers will be required to register all new mobile phones with it. The IMEI is a unique number that identifies a mobile device and helps to prevent its misuse.
In case a phone is lost or stolen, users will be able to report it to their service provider, who will then add it to the CEIR. This will blacklist the device, and it will no longer be able to access any network. This, in turn, will make the phone useless to the person who has stolen it. The government hopes that this system will not only reduce phone theft but also make it easier for the police to track and recover stolen phones.
The portal will also allow users to request to unblock their phones if they are found or recovered. Once a phone is unblocked, it can be used normally again. The government will also work with law enforcement agencies to ensure that registered phones are tracked and recovered if necessary.
The CEIR will be a significant step forward in the fight against phone theft in India. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), over 1.5 million mobile phones were reported stolen or lost in India in 2018 alone. The numbers could be much higher as many people do not report phone theft to the authorities. This new system will not only provide a way to report lost or stolen phones but also make it easier for people to recover their phones if they are lost or stolen.
The CEIR will also make it difficult for thieves to sell stolen phones as they will no longer be able to use them with any network. This will make the theft of mobile phones less attractive to thieves, and they may be deterred from doing it.
In addition to the CEIR, the government is also planning to introduce a new law that will make the theft of mobile phones a non-bailable offense. This means that people who are caught stealing mobile phones will not be able to get bail easily and will have to stay in jail until their case is resolved. This will act as a strong deterrent for potential thieves and reduce the number of mobile phone thefts in the country.
Overall, the CEIR will be a game-changer in the fight against phone theft, and its launch is eagerly awaited. It will provide a simple and effective way for people to track and recover their phones, and it will make it difficult for criminals to profit from the theft of mobile phones. The CEIR, along with the proposed new law, will create a safer environment for mobile phone users in India.