Register Theft FIR Online with Delhi Police

If your movable property has been stolen in Delhi, you may be able to register a Property Theft e-FIR online through Delhi Police without initially visiting a police station. Delhi Police provides a dedicated Theft e-FIR service for property theft cases.

The Delhi Police website currently lists Theft e-FIR separately from Motor Vehicle Theft e-FIR, and its Property Theft portal provides separate options for reporting property that has been lost and property that has actually been stolen.

Important: If an item has merely been lost, or you do not know whether it was lost or stolen, Delhi Police directs citizens to use its Lost Report service rather than the Stolen Report facility.

Legal Position on Theft in Delhi

The principal criminal law governing theft is now the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), which came into force on 1 July 2024, replacing the Indian Penal Code for offences committed after that date.

Under Section 303 BNS, theft involves dishonestly taking movable property out of another person's possession without that person's consent.

Ordinarily, theft is punishable with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or fine, or both. The provision also contains special treatment for a first conviction involving property worth less than ₹5,000 where the property or its value is restored, in which case community service is prescribed.

Other forms of theft may attract different provisions. For example, Section 304 BNS deals with snatching, while Section 305 BNS covers theft in a dwelling house, means of transportation, place of worship and certain other circumstances.

Legal Basis for Registration of an FIR

The procedural law is now the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Under Section 173 BNSS, information relating to a cognizable offence may be given to the officer in charge of a police station orally or by electronic communication, irrespective of the area where the offence was committed. Where information is given electronically, it is required to be signed by the person giving it within three days.

Section 175 BNSS provides for investigation of cognizable cases by the police without requiring a Magistrate's order, subject to the statutory requirements.

Accordingly, the availability of an online e-FIR mechanism is consistent with the current statutory framework permitting electronic communication of information concerning cognizable offences.

Delhi Police Official Theft e-FIR Portal

The safest method is to start from the official Delhi Police website rather than using old third-party links or screenshots.

Delhi Police - Official Website
Delhi Police official website

On the Delhi Police website, go to Services -> Police Services -> Theft e FIR. The current Delhi Police website lists Theft e FIR, MV Theft E FIR, Lost Report and View FIR as separate citizen services.

Delhi Police - Property Theft e-FIR Portal
Delhi Police Property Theft e-FIR portal

Step-by-Step Procedure to Register Theft e-FIR Online
Step 1 - Open the Delhi Police Website

Visit the official Delhi Police website:

Delhi Police Official Website
Delhi Police official website

Locate the Theft e FIR service under the Police Services section.

Step 2 - Open the Property Theft Portal
You can also access the dedicated Delhi Police Property Theft portal:

Delhi Police Property Theft Portal
Delhi Police Property Theft e-FIR portal

The portal currently provides two distinct options:

Lost Report - where property has been lost or its location is unknown.
Stolen Report - where the property has actually been stolen.

Select Stolen Report if you are reporting an actual theft.

Step 3 - Select Stolen Report
Click Stolen Report on the Property Theft portal.

Do not use the Lost Report option merely because it is easier. If you know that the property was stolen, select the stolen-property reporting facility.

Step 4 - Login or Register as a New User
The current Property Theft portal provides an Existing User login facility and a New User - Register option.

For existing users, the portal provides login through registered details and currently displays OTP Mode and Password Mode options.

If you are a new user, select Register and provide the information requested by the portal.

After registration, log in using the credentials or verification method provided by Delhi Police.

Step 5 - Enter Details of the Theft
Provide the information requested in the online form accurately.

Depending upon the information sought by the portal, you should keep details such as the following readily available:

Name and contact details of the complainant
Mobile number and email address
Date and approximate time of theft
Place where the theft occurred
Details of the stolen property
Description, make, model and identifying particulars
Approximate value of the stolen property
Bills, invoices or other proof of ownership, where available
Serial number, IMEI number or other identifying number, where applicable
Any available CCTV footage or other information concerning the suspected offender

Give a clear description of each stolen article. For valuable articles, provide distinguishing features, serial numbers, photographs or other identification details wherever available.

Step 6 - Submit the Information
Review the information carefully before submitting the online form.

Incorrect information, particularly regarding the date, place, description or ownership of the stolen property, can create difficulties during investigation and in subsequent insurance or legal proceedings.

After submission, retain the acknowledgement/reference details generated by the system.

Step 7 - Obtain the e-FIR Copy
Delhi Police's Property Theft e-FIR system was designed to enable citizens to register property-theft FIRs online and obtain a copy without having to visit a police station in the ordinary course. Delhi Police's official documentation describes the Property Theft e-FIR system as an online facility through which a complainant can register an FIR and receive a copy of it.

The Delhi Police portal also provides a facility for retrieving/viewing the FIR. The current Property Theft View FIR page asks for the registered mobile number for downloading the FIR.

View Property Theft FIR - Delhi Police
Delhi Police Property Theft e-FIR portalpublicviewfir.aspx

What Information Should Be Kept Ready?
Before starting the online process, it is advisable to keep the following information available:

1. Complainant's name and contact details.
2. Mobile number and email ID.
3. Date and approximate time of theft.
4. Exact or approximate location of the incident.
5. Description of every stolen article.
6. Approximate value of the property.
7. Bill, invoice or purchase document, if available.
8. Serial number, IMEI or identification number, where applicable.
9. Photographs of the stolen article, if available.
10. CCTV footage or information about possible witnesses.
11. Details of any suspected person, if known.
12. Insurance details, where relevant.

Theft and Loss Are Not the Same

A particularly important distinction is between lost property and stolen property.

If you simply cannot locate an article and do not know whether somebody took it, Delhi Police's current Property Theft portal directs you to the Lost Report facility. If you have information or circumstances indicating that the property was stolen, use Stolen Report.

A lost-property report should not be described as a theft merely to obtain an FIR.

What If the Theft Involves a Motor Vehicle?

Do not use the ordinary Property Theft e-FIR facility for a stolen car, motorcycle, scooter or other motor vehicle.

Delhi Police provides a separate MV Theft e-FIR service for motor-vehicle theft. The official Delhi Police website lists MV Theft E FIR separately from Theft e FIR.

Delhi Police - MV Theft e-FIR / Police Services
https://www.delhipolice.gov.in/index
 

What If the Theft Is Accompanied by Violence or Threat?

An incident involving force, violence, sudden grabbing/snatching, threats or preparation to cause injury may involve offences other than ordinary theft.

For example, Section 304 BNS specifically deals with snatching, while Section 307 addresses theft committed after preparation for causing death, hurt or restraint.

In such circumstances, particularly where the incident involves immediate danger, injury, robbery or an offender who is present or recently fled, you should contact the police/emergency service rather than relying solely upon an online property-theft form.

Delhi Police currently lists 112 as the Emergency Response Support System number.

Can You Go Directly to a Police Station?
Yes. The online facility does not mean that a victim loses the right to approach the police directly.

Delhi Police issued Circular No. 16/2016 stating that when a complainant approaches a police station with a complaint of property theft, the FIR should be registered at the police station through CCTNS and the complainant should not simply be turned away and told to register an e-FIR himself or herself.

Therefore, where the online facility is unavailable, inappropriate for the facts, or the matter requires immediate police intervention, the complainant can approach the police directly.

What If the Online Portal Does Not Work?
If the Delhi Police website or e-FIR portal is temporarily unavailable, you can:

1. Approach the concerned police station.
2. Give information regarding the theft and request registration of the FIR.
3. Preserve screenshots or other evidence of the attempted online complaint, if relevant.
4. Obtain and retain the FIR number/acknowledgement.
5. Contact Delhi Police through its official channels where necessary.

For emergencies, Delhi Police currently provides 112 as the 24 X 7 emergency response number.

Difference Between Theft e-FIR, Lost Report and MV Theft e-FIR

Delhi Police presently identifies these as separate services.

Important Legal Update
Older articles about Delhi Police theft FIRs often refer to Sections 378 and 379 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

Those references should be updated for offences occurring after 1 July 2024.

The corresponding current laws are:

Section 303, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 - Theft
Section 304 BNS - Snatching
Section 305 BNS - Theft in a dwelling house, means of transportation, place of worship, etc.
Section 307 BNS - Theft after preparation for causing death, hurt or restraint
Section 173, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 - Information in cognizable cases

The BNSS expressly recognises information relating to a cognizable offence being given by electronic communication, subject to the statutory requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I register a theft FIR online with Delhi Police?

Yes. Delhi Police currently provides a Theft e-FIR service and a dedicated Property Theft portal for eligible property-theft complaints.

Can I register a theft complaint from my mobile phone?
The Delhi Police online services are accessible through the web, including from a mobile device. The appropriate official portal should be used rather than an unofficial application or website.

Can I get a copy of the FIR online?
Yes. Delhi Police provides an online facility to view/download Property Theft FIRs. The current portal provides a mobile-number-based FIR retrieval facility.

What if my property was lost rather than stolen?
Use the Lost Report service if you have lost the property or do not remember where you kept it. Delhi Police specifically distinguishes Lost Report from Stolen Report.

Is a vehicle theft reported through the same portal?
No. Delhi Police maintains a separate MV Theft e-FIR service for motor-vehicle theft.

What law applies to theft in Delhi now?
For offences committed on or after 1 July 2024, the principal substantive law is the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Ordinary theft is covered by Section 303 BNS. The procedural provisions concerning information to police are contained in the BNSS, including Section 173.

Can I still approach a police station instead of filing online?

Yes. Delhi Police's own 2016 circular states that when a complainant approaches a police station with a property-theft complaint, the FIR should be registered at the police station rather than simply sending the complainant away to use the e-FIR facility.

Disclaimer: This article is intended for general information and guidance. Online procedures, portal interfaces and service availability may change. The information provided should not be treated as legal advice for a particular case. For a serious theft, robbery, snatching, violent incident or other cognizable offence, the complainant should contact Delhi Police directly and provide complete and truthful information.