The investigation began after an iPhone theft case was registered at the MRA Marg police station in May. During surveillance, police traced a SIM card that had been used in the stolen handset. The trail led investigators to a suspect, from whom they recovered 21 stolen iPhones and 12 SIM cards.
Further investigation uncovered an interstate network involved in sourcing stolen iPhones from across India. An officer said phones on which the security lock could be removed were prepared for resale by removing the original Apple IDs.
“Phones on which the security lock could be removed were prepared for resale by removing the original Apple IDs. While on the devices in which the security lock could not be removed, the accused dismantled the handsets. These devices were then sold in across India, as well as sent to foreign markets,” said an officer.
Police said displays, batteries, motherboards, logic boards, chassis and other components were removed and sold separately in the spare-parts market.
An investigating officer said the relatively high resale value of iPhones and the continued demand for used Apple devices make them attractive targets. Apple’s security system poses a major hurdle for those attempting to resell stolen iPhones.
Even when a complete handset cannot be sold, individual components such as displays, batteries and motherboards can fetch money, creating an incentive for thieves and middlemen to dismantle locked devices. The recovery of 64 stolen iPhones worth Rs 44.78 lakh has brought the alleged interstate operation under the police scanner.
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