Cell phone theft is one of the most common crimes in Peru. An average of 4,754 mobile phones are stolen per day, which equates to 198 devices per hour and three of these devices per minute.

The authorities are trying to reduce the incidence and new facilities have been put in place for this, the official newspaper said A Peruvian man.

In this way, within the framework of the legislative powers granted by the Congress of the Republic in the field of citizen security, the Executive Power issued Decree Law No. 1578, which stipulates heavy prison sentences of up to thirty years for the criminal who steals a mobile phone in the most serious cases.

With this rule, those who steal a cell phone can face a prison sentence of as much as twelve and up to twenty years.

Meanwhile, the penalty shall be not less than 20 and not more than 30 years for those who commit this crime with the aggravating circumstance of the use of explosive material or explosives, but also through the use of motor vehicles.

The Minister of the Interior, Vicente Romero, explained that this measure will strengthen the fight against crime and give the National Police important working tools to put an end to the circuit of stolen mobile phones and mobile equipment.

The approved measure amends Article 189 of the Criminal Code, including the said crime in aggravated robbery.

Likewise, it includes the theft of telecommunications terminals, mobile terminal equipment, telecommunications network equipment, computer equipment, its components and peripherals or other property of a similar nature. (JO)