NEW DELHI: Delhi has become a playground for mobile thieves, with as many as seven people losing their phones every hour while travelling, government data showed.
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, about 175 mobile phones were stolen every day in the national capital in January and February this year.
While answering a question on the number of electronic devices stolen in 2016 and 2017, the Minister of State for Home, Hansraj Ahir, said the Delhi Police have registered 10,497 cases of mobile phone thefts till February 28 this year. Last year, 36,217 cases of mobile phone thefts were reported, he said. The police also registered 638 cases of laptop thefts till this February, while last year, the number stood at 3,060, the Minister added.
According to senior officers, iPhones are the main target of the crooks as they can easily sell it off. Miscreants are now-a-days using various websites to sell stolen phones. “It has been found in various cases that the accused sold stolen phones through a website to unknown persons The buyer was also not aware that phone was stolen from Delhi,” a senior police official said.