Kochi: Even in a technologically advanced era, the state police seem to be groping in the dark when it comes to the investigation of mobile phone or laptop theft cases.
As per official records, over one lakh cases are pending in stations across the state for the last five years.
Unfortunately, the percentage of solved cases touches a meagre five percent.
The cops are blaming the different service providers operating in the state for the delay in conducting the investigation.
“Usually, the cyber cell of police will forward a mobile theft or lost case to the service providers and ask them to inform the details of the owner of the SIM who is currently using mobile phone. It takes time for the service providers to identify the new user of the phone, if it is being used. However, there is considerable delay in getting information from the service providers,” said Shefeen Ahamed, SP, Police Computer Centre. He added that most of the service providers in the country are reluctant or are not cooperating with the investigation.
Interestingly, the number of pending cases is much higher as only in a few mobile theft cases a First Information Report is lodged.
According to Cyber Cell SI Francis Perera, the city police investigated 947 cases last year and managed to solve 59 cases.
The police, however, are reluctant to reveal the actual number of persons turning up at the police stations.
