New Delhi: While probing a mobile phone theft case registered in east Delhi's Madhu Vihar, police have uncovered an alleged racket involved in unlocking and refurbishing stolen smartphones for resale in the grey market. The operation was allegedly run from a shop in Gaffar Market in Karol Bagh, where two men accused of purchasing stolen phones were arrested.
Investigators said the accused used a China-made AMP tool to bypass factory reset protection (FRP) and erase device security credentials before putting the handsets back on sale. The accused have been identified as Mohammad Jalal, 29, and Imran, 27.
The case came to light on January 1, when complainant Pawan Kumar Gupta reported that his mobile phone had been stolen from his trouser pocket by a pickpocket while he was boarding a bus from Anand Vihar to Kashmere Gate.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajeev Kumar said that during the investigation, police received inputs about individuals operating out of Gaffar Market who were allegedly receiving stolen mobile phones and using sophisticated software tools to bypass security locks and factory reset protection.
Acting on the tip-off, a police team raided a shop and recovered 45 intact Android mobile phones, 22 mobile phone bodies, a laptop, and the AMP tool allegedly used for unlocking devices. The accused present at the premises failed to provide satisfactory ownership documents for the devices and were subsequently apprehended.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly disclosed that they jointly operated the mobile repairing and software servicing shop and used the AMP tool to bypass FRP and other security features in specific phone models. Police said the tool was used to erase security credentials and unlock devices sourced through suspicious channels, making it difficult for legitimate owners to trace or identify them.
So far, seven of the recovered phones have been linked to previously reported theft and loss cases registered across different police jurisdictions. Further investigation is underway to trace the source of the stolen devices, identify other links, and establish connections to similar cases in Delhi and neighbouring states.
