French Ambassador to India goes Diwali shopping in Chandni Chowk, has his mobile phone stolen
The Delhi Police have arrested four people in connection with the theft of a mobile phone belonging to the French Ambassador to India, Thierry Mathou, in a busy market in the national capital’s Chandni Chowk. Mathou and his wife had gone to visit the market on 20 October, when his mobile phone was stolen from his pocket.
French ambassador's mobile stolen while shopping
Following this, Mathou filed an e-complaint stating that he had lost his mobile phone near Jain Mandir in the Chandni Chowk area of North Delhi. The French embassy also notified the authorities the next day, and an investigation was launched.
Suspects arrested, mobile recovered
During the investigation, Delhi Police examined CCTV footage from the area, and the suspects were identified. Four accused, all aged between 20 and 25 years, were arrested, and the mobile phone was also recovered from them, the police said. The accused are residents of the trans-Yamuna area, and further investigation is underway.
Mobile thefts in Delhi
The French Ambassador is fortunate to have been reunited with his stolen mobile phone, as most others in Delhi are not so lucky. In 2023, over 3.4 lakh mobile phones were stolen in Delhi, an increase of 22 per cent compared to the 2.8 lakh cases in 2022.
Less than one per cent recovery rate
According to the Union Ministry of Telecommunications, the recovery rate for lost or stolen mobile phones in Delhi is 0.90%, the lowest in the country. What makes the recovery of lost phones nearly impossible is the nexus between gangs who steal mobile phones and shops that buy them, which, in many cases, may be located outside Delhi.
Last year, the Delhi Police also busted a gang that changed the IMEI numbers of stolen mobile phones, making tracking such devices impossible.
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