Kottayam: The Central Government has blocked 57,511 mobile phones stolen from Kerala over the past two years using the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR). 

Of these, the location of 37,228 phones has been tracked and police investigations are ongoing to trace these devices. Another 9,268 recovered phones have been returned to their owners, while 11,015 remain untracked.

When the SIM card number, IMEI number, brand name and price of the stolen phone are entered into the CEIR portal (www.ceir.gov.in), the device is immediately blocked. These phones cannot be used, even if a different SIM card is inserted.

Additional details such as the location and date of the theft, state, district, police station, complaint number, a copy of the complaint, the owner's address and identity documents must also be submitted on the portal.

Whenever a new SIM card is inserted into a stolen phone, the portal is instantly notified and receives the device’s location. This information is then forwarded to the police station where the complaint was originally filed. This helps the cyber police track the SIM card used in the stolen device. 

What is CEIR?
A Central Equipment Identity Register [“CEIR”] is a centralised database of mobile equipment identifiers (i.e. IMEI for networks of GSM standard). Such an identifier is assigned to each SIM slot of the mobile device. Such a CEIR may include the following lists:

• White list for devices that are allowed to register in a cellular network
• Black list for devices that are prohibited registration in a cellular network
• Grey for devices in intermediate status (i.e. when it is not yet defined whether the device should be placed in the white list or the blacklist).

The CEIR acts as a central system for all network operators connected to their EIRs to share blacklisted mobile devices so that devices blacklisted in one network will not work on other networks, even if the SIM card in the device is changed. It will help in combating mobile device theft and misuse.

How to block lost phone though CEIR?
The user can block the phone's IMEI though the CEIR website and state police. 

The procedure to do through the site is as follows: -

• File a report with the police, and keep a copy of the report.
• Get a duplicate SIM Card for the lost number from your telecom service provider (eg, Airtel, Jio, Voda/Idea, BSNL, MTNL etc.). This is essential because you will need to provide this as the primary mobile number (OTP will be sent on this number) while submitting the request for blocking your IMEI.
• Get your documents ready - a copy of police report and an Identity Proof must be provided. You can also provide the mobile purchase invoice.
• Fill out the request registration form for blocking the IMEI of lost/stolen phone, and attach the required documents. Click here to go to the form.
• After submitting the form, you will be given a Request ID. The same can be used for checking the status of your request and for unblocking the IMEI in future.