In a remarkable display of presence of mind and efficient policing, a first-year college student in Bengaluru managed to recover her expensive lost iPhone within just a few hours on Wednesday. The incident highlights how a combination of technology, quick thinking, and responsive police action can lead to swift resolutions.
From Loss to Digital Trail
The episode began on Wednesday morning outside St Joseph's College for Commerce on Brigade Road. Saanvi, a first-year BCom student, realised she had accidentally dropped her iPhone Pro Max near the college gate. Not losing hope, she immediately sprang into action. Her first step was to approach the college authorities to access the CCTV footage from the area.
The surveillance video revealed the crucial clue: it showed a street sweeper picking up an object from the pavement opposite the gate and placing it in his pocket. Saanvi promptly recorded this footage on her friend's mobile phone for evidence.
The Tech-Savvy Chase
Armed with the visual proof, Saanvi then leveraged technology to track her device. Using the 'Find My Phone' feature from a friend's mobile, she discovered the phone's live location. It was pinging from Ayyappa Garden in Viveknagar, approximately 5 kilometres away from her college.
She, along with her friends, rushed to the Viveknagar area. They showed the recorded CCTV clip to local residents, hoping someone would recognise the man. When this community approach did not yield results, she dialled 112, the police emergency number, and requested assistance.
Swift Police Intervention and Recovery
The Bengaluru police response was notably prompt. Within eight minutes, a Hoysala patrol vehicle arrived at the spot in Viveknagar. Assistant sub-inspector Venkatesh and head constable Rajashekhar from the Ashoknagar police station took charge of the inquiry.
After Saanvi explained the sequence of events, the officers began questioning locals. They specifically asked if anyone knew a person engaged in street sweeping or working for the GBA (likely the civic body) who lived nearby. Their targeted enquiries soon bore fruit. A youth identified the man from the CCTV footage and directed the police team to the house of Ramaiah, a 45-year-old man.
When questioned, Ramaiah admitted to finding the phone outside the college. He stated he had taken it home as he did not know who it belonged to. His son, who came out of the house, supported this, explaining that his father was unsure what to do with the device and thus kept it at home. The police noted that the phone had not been switched off.
"We also asked Ramaiah why he did not answer the calls made to the phone," the police told reporters. "Ramaiah replied he did not know any language other than Telugu, so he did not answer."
Saanvi checked the iPhone Pro Max and confirmed it was in perfect working condition. Choosing not to file a formal complaint, she had her valuable device back in her hand by 1 pm on the same day. The police, however, issued a stern warning to Ramaiah and his son, emphasising that it was their duty to hand over any found property to the nearest police station.
This incident serves as a practical guide on the steps to take when losing a valuable item: immediately secure CCTV evidence, use tracking technology, involve the police promptly, and cooperate fully with the authorities.
