Kurla GRP recovering more and more stolen mobile phones each year

Local Press Co 5-point Snippet

1. In a welcome news for local train commuters, the retrieval percentage of stolen mobile phones across nine stations managed by Kurla Government Railway Police (GRP) has gone up since the last two years.

2. According to official figures obtained from GRP by Indian Express, the retrieval percentage of stolen phones across the notorious stretch from Kurla to Mulund has gone up in 2014 and 2015. In 2015, 219 mobile phones out of 340 reported stolen were retrieved, adding up to a success rate of 64 percent. In comparison, 168 phones were retrieved out of 283 stolen in 2014 at a success rate of 59 percent. In the first five months of 2016, GRP has already managed to recover 78 mobiles from the 108 reported stolen, at a success rate of over 70 percent.

3. Kurla GRP manages nine stations including Kurla, Vidyavihar, Ghatkopar, Vikhroli, Kanjurmarg, Bhandup, Nahur, Mulund and Kurla Terminus. According to GRP, this stretch witnesses the maximum mobile theft incidents, but the communication with telecom operators has been a key factor in the retrieval of mobile phones. While there is no saying when a phone is returned to its original owner, GRP officials now communicate the status of the reported property via WhatsApp as well.

4. The profiling of the accused has revealed that a majority of them are slum residents from neighbouring areas who pickpocket or steal phones to earn their daily bread or use it for drugs/alcohol. The penalty for stealing ranges from a jail term of 3 to 6 months or fine of upto Rs 5000.

5. Although the number of theft related incidents have also increased over the years, the GRP is trying to tackle it by deploying more personnel at theft-prone areas and spreading awareness among commuters.

Statistics from Indian Express