Lost Mobile Recovery

Recover your Lost / Stolen mobile

... continued from the previous post Prevent Mobile Loss.

I would not have written the previous blog until I recovered the phone. As I was not sure if they really help? Now I am sure that they do help. So continuing with the story of what I did after I lost my mobile to the point where I found it.

SIM Blocking: First thing you have to do is to get your SIM blocked. Although I did not do it right away I was trying to get hold of the rickshaw driver and wanted him to pick it up and then ask him to return it. But sometime later the mobile was switched off and the SIM was thrown for obvious reasons. Blocking of SIM can help you by stopping the unlawful usage of your SIM money.

Duplicate SIM: Secondly you should go to the subscriber and get a duplicate SIM issued so that you don't miss any phone call (some big business opportunity) and save the trouble of distributing your new number to everyone.

In some cases you will require a police FIR to get your SIM blocked. But in my case my subscriber blocked it on just a phone call and I could get the duplicate SIM with the same number without even going to police station.

FIR at Police Station for mobile loss: Now go to the police station. ( Don't hear if your relatives and friends say "a lost mobile is forever gone", "if you have followed the above two steps already no use going to Police" etc) Even if you hear police is useless they don't do a thing and will make you run all around and discourage you, you have to go to them because they might be your last or may be only hope. Also it might save you from trouble if your phone was used in some unlawful activity. You have the proof that you have reported it.

So which police station to go. yes Which? Because if you go to a wrong police station they will give you jurisdiction crap. You have come to wrong police station go to some other station. Specially in cases where you have lost mobile while commuting lot of jurisdiction crap falls on you. Make sure where you saw your mobile last and goto a police station in that area.

You are at a police station and you say your mobile is stolen. First thing they will ask your identity (I took photocopy of documents along with me) and that you have the bills with you. So now I was sent to the inspector inside. Hmmm now be ready to hear all crap and a proof that it was all because of you and your negligence that you lost the mobile. Mind it lost not stolen. Be calm, clear and explain if you think otherwise or else accept it that you have lost it.

Its time to ask them courteously to lodge a complaint for it. If possible be ready with a application. I wasn't, so wrote it there. Now, What to write in the application? The application should clearly explain all the details about your equipment especially IMEI number and including Serial Number, manufacturer, model and cost. Following this write a detailed account about the steps leading to the loss of mobile. Try to be specific and provide details wherever possible. Also obviously provide your details and phone number. Submit and keep a photocopy of the complaint signed and stamped by inspector.

Make sure to look into your bill (post paid connection bill with detailed call log) for any phone calls made by your mobile on the day it lost and before you blocked it. Also provide this details to police when you find any.

The WAIT: The only thing you do now is wait. Wait, hope and pray :). Even if you go to police again you will be told that once we find it we will call you. The problem here is that even if you gave the IMEI number your mobile can not be found if a SIM is not inserted in it for e.g., in cases of a PDA which has many functions other than calling. Also the police most probably sets alert in that state only. Meaning if your mobile is sold or used outside it might not be found (not sure about this fact although.) It actually depends on the law of the country. Some countries even maintain shared databases of theft reported mobiles so that the mobile could be found even outside the country. But that's not the case in India I guess.

The Surprise Call: One day after so many days of waiting( Lost : 24 Nov 08, Two days before the heinous Mumbai attacks and after 1 year 7 days of buying it. Found : 8 Jan 09, 45 days after losing it) I got a call from the police station saying that they have found my mobile and I need to come to the police station. At police station they told me that they have located it and will have to go and recover it. The place is about 40KMs away and I would have to go along with them, or they can bring it. I said I would come along.

Well they weren't expecting this answer. They said I would have to go to office etc, so they said its Okay they can bring it for me. Then the explanation came to how difficult it is to recover it, they have to go in night and wait for the guy. And they would need to go by taxi and will have to eat. Also how high on crime that area is and hence recovery is difficult. Hearing their woeful PLIGHT I had to offer them help and shed some GANDHI BAPUs. I offered them 400 Bucks. They asked me how much it is and then these guys got angry. Tells me to go home and take the money with me. They will call the person and ask him to return the phone at my home address and There is no need to worry. Well it seemed just like in movies but truth is TRUTH. Obviously it was a scare but I had no choice or that was how it looked to me. I Shed a few more GANDHI BAPUs. They accepted it GLADLY. And told me to go home and wait for their call the next day or just come in the evening, they MIGHT be able to recover it.

Even after all that I had no surety of getting the mobile back. I had to believe and hope that they will be "Imandar Baiman" (Honorable Crooks) and once after accepting the money will do the work. I had to wait the whole day for a call and after not receiving it I was at the police station that evening. When I entered they smiled and showed me the phone. OoooH so great to see her again.

Congratulations: I was asked to write an application to stop the investigation. I was specifically asked to THANK and CONGRATULATE the police department to find it. Although I had already penned it down without their asking because I was thankful. But I couldn't help but smile when that guy asked me to. I just underlined those lines again :). I also mentioned that the phone is missing the memory card, stylus and cover. But I am happy for the rest. Later he was trying to explain how they recovered it and who had it in broken hindi and frequently mixed with Kannad (which I don't know). As I was not much interested I did not ask for further explanation. I thanked them again and left. I was happy the police department does work, against the general claims I have heard, although crookedly.