Police issue guidelines for mobile phone theft

Police Headquarters has issued guidelines on the steps people should follow if a mobile phone is lost, misplaced or stolen.

Police said complaints on lost and stolen mobile phones are reported daily, warning that stolen phones with wrong persons may be misused for illegal or criminal activities.

Authorities urged the public to take immediate action to protect personal, financial and sensitive information stored on devices.

Police guidelines are as follows:

Deactivate the SIM card immediately through your mobile service provider to prevent misuse.
Report the incident to the police and provide the phone’s IMEI number, which is crucial for tracking the device.
Keep a record of the IMEI number and service details before losing the phone. The IMEI can be found by dialling *#06#.
Register and report the missing phone via ineed.police.lk, a police system introduced to help trace devices quickly.

Police said they recovered 2,796 misplaced phones and 928 stolen phones in 2024, while in 2025, authorities recovered 2,355 lost phones and seized 1,019 stolen devices, taking legal action against offenders.

Police also reminded the public that keeping property that does not belong to them is a criminal offence, and purchasing stolen phones at low prices could result in legal consequences, including imprisonment.

When buying a new phone, the public is advised to verify whether it has been reported stolen using the 'Find Genuine Phone' feature in the police 'I Need System.'