Rio de Janeiro Civil Police begins return of 1,600 recovered cell phones

Next Tuesday (20), the Civil Police will begin the largest return of recovered cell phones in the state’s history. 1,600 devices that were recovered during operation Rastreio, carried out by the corporation to combat cell phone theft and theft, will be returned. Operation Tracking aims to recover and return stolen or stolen devices, in addition to reducing the incidence of this type of crime. Since the start of the operation, more than 10,000 cell phones have been recovered, and around 2,500 devices have already been returned to their rightful owners.

Victims of robberies or thefts will be contacted by security forces, who are contacting them via WhatsApp or by phone to inform them about the return of the devices. The police also appeal to the population to avoid purchasing cell phones on the parallel market, contributing to the reduction of this criminal practice that continues to grow, both in Rio de Janeiro and in the rest of the country.

According to data from the Public Security Institute (ISP), in 2025, more than 36,000 cell phones were stolen in Rio de Janeiro in the first eight months of the year, which represents an average of one device every 10 minutes. The return of recovered cell phones is an important action to reduce the impacts of theft and theft crimes and ensure that the devices return to their owners. The Civil Police reinforces the importance of reporting crimes and not purchasing products of dubious origin.