LIMA, Peru: Peru’s government has implemented stricter penalties for cellphone theft, including life imprisonment if a robber kills someone while stealing a mobile device. The revised penal code, recently approved by Congress, came into effect on October 19.
Previously, Peru’s penal code did not impose prison sentences for stealing cellphones. However, authorities decided to re-evaluate the law due to the escalating rate of mobile device thefts taking place throughout the country.
According to the country’s telecommunication authority, approximately 1.2 million cellphones were reported stolen in Peru during the first nine months of 2023. This equates to over 4,000 devices being stolen every day.
“The new penalties aim to send a strong message to all those who engage in cellphone theft,” stated Interior Minister Vicente Romero.
Life imprisonment is already applicable for various crimes in Peru, including femicides, kidnapping of young children, and sexual exploitation of minors.
Under the new penal code, stealing a cellphone will carry an initial penalty of 12 years in prison, which can be extended to 30 years if the robber utilizes a weapon or explosives during the theft. These stringent measures convey the government’s determination to combat this growing issue.
