Smartphone theft, snatching rising in Siliguri

EOI, SILIGURI, 14 Jul 2015: With the number of smartphone users increasing sharply, Siliguri is seeing a rise in the theft of handsets in. Further, a comparison of the town’s crime figures in the past one-and-a-half years with that of previous years shows that criminal acts have increased manifold. But a closer look at the nature of crimes reveals most are related to mobile phone snatching. 
While mobile phone snatching/theft tops the list of crimes reported from the town, there has not been any significant change in incidents of murder, burglary and kidnapping during the past few years. Mobile phone handsets, which cost Rs3,000 and above, have become the most sought after target of criminals. The police say many people are taking to this crime as smartphones can be easily stolen and disposed of. The absence of a policy to regulate the sale of used mobile phones has only helped the criminals.

According to the police, more than 100 cases of mobile phone theft/snatching are being registered in the city every month. And more than 50 per cent of such cases go unreported as many of the victims do not lodge complaints.

The police say most of the people involved in mobile phone theft are youngsters and unemployed adults. They mainly target college-going girls, elderly people, or businessmen because of the notion that they own high-end handsets. There is a huge market for stolen handsets in Siliguri as well as in the neighbouring districts. But the culprits prefer semi urban areas over the town to sell their loot as they get a good price and also because the risk of being caught is less. It is difficult to track a stolen mobile phone if the victims do not know their handsets’ International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, a 15-digit-serial-number that helps to track the location of the phone when it is being used, the police say.

On the other hand, many smartphone losers complain that the police do not register their complaints under the proper category. Mobile phone theft is included under the Lost Documents Category and this makes it difficult even for the police to maintain accurate records of mobile phones stolen/snatched and also their prices. As the number is going to increase in the days to come with a fall in prices of smartphones available in the market or online portals, there is an immediate need to take stringent steps to check smartphone theft/snatching, the public feel.