For gangs, IMEI number of iPhones, BlackBerry handsets tough to break

Mumbai: Hariom, mastermind of a racket that bought stolen or lost mobile phones from thieves has told the Gaziabad police that for the gang members, it was very difficult to change International Mobile Equipment Identity of handsets made by Apple and BalckBerry.

Police say that these gang members were able to crack IMEI number of handsets made by other manufacturers. But, due to introduction of a robust security feature by Apple and BlackBerry, cracking IMEI number of these handsets is not easier.

"Hariom confessed that except Apple and Blackberry, they got success in changing the IMEI codes of all other mobile phones," a PTI report said. The report added that police have recovered as many as 779 smartphones form these gangs operating in northern parts of country.

The police had kept a these gang members under a constant surveillance by launching operating Black Hat. The modus operandi of these gangs was to first buy these phones on cheaper than market rates and then change their IMEI fingerprint by employing a unique technology.

The police have also made some other persons in the case. "Chand, Akram, Kasif, Shanu, Gaurav, Afsar, Manoj and Hariom have been arrested from a communication shop in the Navyug market in the Kotwali area," PTI quoted Superintendent of Police Akash Tomar as saying.