200 recovered cell phones returned to their owners by the Civil Police of Pará
The new phase of the operation is another step in combating thefts and robberies in the state
The Civil Police of Pará, through the Specialized Police Station for the Recovery of Mobile Devices, carried out the return of 200 cell phones this Friday morning (23) through Operation Reconnect, to victims of thefts and robberies. The devices were recovered between January and May of this year and are now being returned to their rightful owners.
All the delivered devices were previously identified from the occurrence reports registered by the victims. “The initial step for police work is this, the registration of the occurrence. The victim needs to provide a description of the device, such as brand and model, but mainly the IMEI number, which is the international identification of the device. With the purchase invoice, we can obtain all this information,” explained delegate Fernanda Maués, head of the Specialized unit.
The legitimate owners of the devices were notified to appear at the auditorium of the General Police Station of the PC, in Belém, where the devices were returned. Any Civil Police station, whether in the capital, in the countryside, or even the virtual police station, is able to handle cases of cell phone thefts and robberies; however, the creation of the Specialized Police Station for the Recovery of Mobile Devices in October 2024 marked an important advance in combating this type of crime.
“Since the end of last year, more than 600 recovered devices have been returned to their owners solely by this Specialized unit, which represents a significant increase compared to previous years. In 2024, throughout the state, restitutions increased by 36% compared to 2023, and this year, the expectation is to achieve even better numbers,” highlighted Fernanda.
Receiving stolen property - Acquiring, possessing, or selling devices from illicit sources constitutes the crime of receiving stolen property, as provided in the penal code. “The population should be attentive when buying devices, especially online, through marketplaces. It is necessary to demand from the seller guarantees that prove the origin of the device, such as the purchase invoice. This is the main document to attest to the legitimacy of possession of an asset,” warned the delegate.
“The crime of receiving stolen property carries a penalty of 1 to 4 years in prison; however, in the case of resale of the device, the perpetrator may be classified under qualified receiving, with a higher penalty of 3 to 8 years,” she emphasized.
Happy ending - Janice Narda was one of the victims summoned to appear at the police station to recover a device. Her cell phone was stolen in 2023 while she was still paying the installments for it. When registering the occurrence report, she was skeptical about being able to recover it. “When I received the summons from the Civil Police, it was a great joy. I am very happy to have my cell phone back,” declared Janice.
The director of PCPA, delegate Benassuly, evaluated the result of another phase of Operation Reconnect as positive. “Today we are delivering 200 cell phones that were recovered through investigation. These people, victims of robberies and thefts, bought these devices with the sweat of their work and today receive their property back. Our goal is this: to combat crime and convey peace and security to the society of Pará,” highlighted Benassuly.
