Cyber cell finding it tough to trace lost phones

KOCHI: The number of mobile phone theft cases pending with the Cyber Cell in Kerala has crossed 3 lakh in last three years. Even after providing International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) code only one among 250 lost mobiles could be traced.Sources in Cyber Cell said that it is almost impossible for them to track lost mobiles as mobile operators are not cooperative in this regard. “The number of mobile theft cases has crossed by more than three lakh in last three years. This is not because we are unable to track the mobile phones but because even after our request, the mobile operators often fail to provide us with the details”. “Our requests to trace the mobile tower once the mobile is lost is often ignored. Only one in 250 lost phones are traced now. Mobile operators don’t give us the relevant details even after we provide them with the IMEI code,” sources said.Lack of high-tech facility and enough manpower to investigate all types of types of cyber crimes is another major constraint for the Cyber Cell. “Even though we have requested the Finance Department to deploy more officials, the request has not been sanctioned. In almost all the Cyber Cells, several posts are lying vacant. The software too is not updated regularly because of the cost factor. Even people who do cyber crimes have better facilities than what we have at our office,” a highly placed Cell official told ‘Express’ under conditions of anonymity. The sources with Cyber police said that there are several softwares available with mobile thieves to change the IMEA number soon after stealing a mobile. In such cases, what Cyber Cell do mainly is to make sure that the particular mobile connection won’t be used for terrorist activities. This is almost the only thing that can be done in most cases. The cyber crimes reported in 2010 has already touched 86, 501 and it is expected to cross one lakh by the end of the year. “The number of cyber crimes keep increasing each year. The government and the Home Department should seriously consider providing better infrastructure to the Cyber cell in this situation,” an official of the Cell said.