Whatsapp group formed to trace mobile snatchers

THE DYSP HAS FORMED A WHATSAPP GROUP IN WHICH ALL MOBILE TRADERS HAVE BEEN ADDED.

PRAYAGRAJ: To control rising incidents of mobile phone snatching and thefts, police have formed a strategy to trace and identify miscreants. They are now approaching mobile phone traders, especially those involved in sale of used second hand mobile phones, asking them to call the police if they suspect that a person has come with a stolen set..

A large number of incidents of mobile thefts and snatchings are reported in nearly all police stations of the district every month. The mobile recovery cell tries to recover lost, stolen and snatched mobiles but their number remains much lower than the number of reported incidents. Those involved in mobile thefts and snatchings sell the sets to others while many approach dealers.

Consequently, DySP Shubham Todi has now taken this novel initiative. In a recent meeting with mobile traders at Indira Bhawan market, Todi asked them to alert the police if they came across people with stolen mobiles.

The DySP has formed a Whatsapp group in which all mobile traders have been added. If anyone approaches the trader to sell a mobile sans receipt and the former is suspicious, he can immediately inform the police.

The police outpost in charge at Civil Lines has been appointed as nodal officer for the initiative. The traders told the police that they were often approached by people wanting to sell mobiles in large numbers. Some even came with costly spare parts to try to sell them. Todi said traders would now alert cops about suspicious people in the market through Whatsapp group. With the help of mobile traders, thieves and snatchers would be identified and nabbed.