The Secondhand Smartphone You Bought Cheap Might Be Stolen!

NEW DELHI: The slick looking smart phone with great camera and apps you bought cheap at an online store could just be stolen ware. Thieves are increasingly palming off high end stolen mobiles through online trading portals, say police.

"Thieves are selling stolen mobiles on online trading sites like Quikr.com, ebay.in or olx.in," a Delhi Police official told declining to be identified citing rules.

Smart phones with android operating system, latest apps and good cameras are in great demand among people seeking second hand mobile phones at low rates. But customers buying such high end phones at cheap rates through online stores are unaware they might be getting trapped by mobile thieves.

The buyers, eager to purchase high quality smartphones, don't even bother to check if the good is stolen in the lure of getting costly mobiles at the lowest price.

"The buyers don't even bother to ask about the purchase document of the mobile, " the official added.

The growing demand for top quality stolen mobiles in Delhi and bordering states has been encouraging thieves to go pick pocketing mobiles from people venturing in public places.

Delhi Police data reveals that 6,945 mobile phones were reported missing between Jan 1 and Aug 31 this year.

A maximum number of 1,426 mobiles was reported missing in North Delhi police district, while the least (one) was reported missing in South West district. A total of 298 mobiles were reported missing from New Delhi area, where most VVIPs and parliament members live.

The Central Delhi area was second in the list with 1,337 mobile missing complaints registered. The East district was on third with 443 complaints.

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