Now Reading: Stolen phones feed Rs 150-crore shadow economy in Delhi
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Stolen phones feed Rs 150-crore shadow economy in Delhi
Over 2.5 lakh mobile phones were reported snatched, stolen or lost in Delhi in 2025, with more than 1.5 lakh cases in the first seven months alone. Investigators estimate the city's black…
The Story in Brief
Over 2.5 lakh mobile phones were reported snatched, stolen or lost in Delhi in 2025, with more than 1.5 lakh cases in the first seven months alone. Investigators estimate the city's black market for stolen phones is worth Rs 150-250 crore annually. Snatchers are the lowest link; organised syndicates make the real money by stripping premium devices for parts or smuggling them across the border into Nepal. A single high-end screen can fetch up to Rs 15,000 in the grey market.
Recovery rates have jumped sharply, from just 5% in 2024 to 74% so far this year, thanks to the Central Equipment Identity Register that helps block and trace devices. Police have identified markets in Gaffar Market, Seelampur and Lajpat Rai as hubs for these operations. The stolen phones are often dismantled, with parts sold separately to evade detection.
The Indian Opinion
The 74% recovery rate is impressive, but it masks the scale of the problem: 2.5 lakh phones lost in a single year. The usual narrative blames petty criminals and substance abuse, but the real story is an organised multi-crore supply chain that treats phones as raw inventory. As tracking improves, syndicates will likely shift tactics. The question is whether enforcement can stay ahead when a locked iPhone's screen alone is worth Rs 15,000 on the black market.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
