Gujarat Ranks Second in Blocking Lost Phones, but 49% of Traced Devices Remain Unreturned

Gujarat has secured the second position among major states in India for blocking lost or stolen mobile phones, with 2,38,533 handsets blocked, according to data analysed up to October 26, 2026.

Of these devices, 1,47,427 have been traced, while 74,823 have been returned to their owners. This means that although around 62% of the blocked phones have been traced, a little over 49% of the traced handsets are yet to be returned to their rightful owners.

The figures highlight the difference between blocking a phone to prevent its further use, locating the device and completing the process of returning it to its owner.

Gujarat’s reported handset recovery rate stands at 50.75%, compared with the national average of 37.4%. The state’s rate has improved by 9.75 percentage points from the 41% recorded in October 2025.

Thousands of Traced Phones Yet to Be Returned

Of the 2,38,533 devices blocked in Gujarat, 1,47,427 have been traced. However, only 74,823 of these have been handed back to their owners.

That leaves 72,604 traced handsets yet to be returned, based on the figures provided. The remaining 91,106 blocked devices have not been reported as traced in the data.

The numbers show that tracing a lost or stolen phone is only one part of the process. Ensuring that the device is verified and returned to its owner remains a separate challenge.

Anand Cyber Cell Leads State Performance

During the six-month performance period from April 1 to September 30, 2026, three police units were recognised for their work in tracing and recovering mobile phones.

• First: Anand District Cyber Cell, led by Police Inspector Jaymin Dodiya.
• Second: Dang District Local Crime Branch (LCB), represented by Police Sub-Inspector J. G. Andakat.
• Third: Ahmedabad City team, comprising Assistant Sub-Inspector Bhaveshkumar Vishnuprasad and Police Constable Hardiksinh Jayantilal.

Technology and Police Coordination Support Recovery Efforts

The state’s performance has been attributed to the use of technology, prompt tracking and coordination among police units. The initiative aims to help citizens recover lost or stolen mobile phones and strengthen technology-driven policing.

However, the gap between the number of devices traced and those returned highlights the need to complete the final stage of the recovery process. While 1,47,427 phones have been traced, 74,823 have reached their owners so far, according to the figures provided.