New Delhi: With the assistance of Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR), police have successfully recovered 175 mobile phones stolen from the Delhi Metro within a span of just 45 days.According to police, of the total recovered phones, 125 were linked to cases where theft complaints were officially registered, resulting in First Information Reports (FIRs). The remaining 50 devices were reported lost or misplaced by their owners but were nonetheless traced and recovered. These recoveries occurred between July 1 and Aug 15, 2025.CEIR is a centralised system managed by the Department of Telecommunications, specifically designed to block, trace, and recover lost or stolen mobile phones through their unique International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers. This technology played a pivotal role in tracking down the stolen phones.The thefts took place at various metro stations across Delhi, typically when commuters were travelling or momentarily leaving their belongings unattended. Upon investigation, police tracked the movement of these devices across the city. During inquiry, several individuals came forward claiming they unknowingly purchased stolen phones from unknown sellers. These sellers reportedly offered the devices at prices discounted between 10% and 30% below market value. Police are currently verifying these claims to establish their authenticity.To prevent the further misuse of these stolen phones, all recovered devices were promptly blocked through the CEIR system. The system is also programmed to send automatic alerts to law enforcement whenever a new SIM card is inserted into any blocked phone, enabling quick action for tracking and recovery.Deputy commissioner of police (Metro), Kushal Pal Singh, stated that a dedicated CEIR team of four personnel has been established. Additionally, a nodal officer has been appointed at each of the 16 Metro Police Stations to support recovery operations. The recovered phones are now being systematically returned to their rightful owners.