Mobile theft: Police reluctant to file FIR

Police stations take the easy way out to avoid investigations into petty crimes

MUMBAAI: Afeefa Konkader, 32, from Bandra, was on her way home in an auto rickshaw when two men snatched her mobile phone. Konkader, who did not want to let go of her Samsung X-700, followed the two thieves. The auto driver managed to knock down one of the robbers, while his accomplice fled away with the cell phone.

However, Konkader was surprised when she took the culprit to the Bandra police station only to be handed a police certificate indicating that she had lost her cell phone. Only after she insisted did the police relented lodge an FIR after two days.

In another incident, a 26-year-old journalist was at the Andheri station when his cell phone was robbed. He insisted that an FIR to be registered. However, the Andheri police handed over the lost/ misplaced certificate.

All this despite the joint commissioner of police, (law and order) KL Prasad recently sending a circular to police stations across the city stating that police should not refuse to register an FIR if the victim insists.

Considered a petty crime, police are reluctant to register a FIR in cases of mobile theft.
 
“Mobile thefts involve tiresome follow-ups with the service providers. Many a times the victim even does not bother to come to collect the cell phone if found. This could be a problem due to which the cops are reluctant to register an FIR in these cases,” Prasad told DNA on Friday.

Prasad, however, said, “If any citizen has faced such a problem, he/she should take up the issue and the concerned officer will be taken to task.”