Udupi: Mobile phone retailers in Udupi district detected seven suspected stolen mobile phones after unidentified people approached their shops to sell the devices. Suspicion arose when shop owners verified the phones using the Sanchar Saathi app and found that the devices were listed in the blacklist database.When the sellers were asked to produce valid ownership documents for the phones, they failed to provide any proof, further increasing suspicion. Following this, Udupi district mobile retailers’ association president Vivek G Suvarna, along with other members visited Udupi SP and handed over seven mobile phones including two Redmi model, two Samsung phones, a Realme, HMD and iQOO model. Police said the original owners of the devices would be traced through the CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Register) portal and the phones would be returned to them as per legal procedures.Police have advised mobile shop owners and the public to follow precautions while handling second-hand cellphones. Mobile phones brought for sale should first be checked using the Sanchar Saathi app. Shop owners should avoid using their own SIM cards for verification and instead use the SIM card of the person selling the device. Mobile phones without proper ownership documents should not be purchased or accepted. Any suspicious attempts to sell mobile phones should be reported immediately to the nearest police station.
