America’s Apple concerns could significantly help unravel the case of the domestic electronics store Mamut.cz. 107,000 iPhones and 361,000 AirPods are missing from companies connected to these stores.

Only the American giant can determine the location of such a large number of stolen devices. However, it is based on two assumptions: The first is that the device has been connected to the network, and the second is the assumption that Apple has been asked for cooperation by the Czech police who are investigating the case.

The key to finding a lost cell phone is the two unique identification numbers that every cell phone has: the serial number and the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number. These two numbers can help track stolen devices connected to your network.

“Technically, it works in such a way that each operator sees every mobile device that appears on its network. This means it is using its SIM or ‘roaming’ on its network. In such cases, the network will log the provided IMEI,” said T-Mobile spokesperson Patricie Šedivá.

However, the serial number could be more important in the case of Mamut phones. Using it, you can track devices even abroad. It is not yet known for certain whether lost phones from companies connected to Mamut ended up abroad. Moreover, not only iPhones have serial numbers, but also AirPods in Apple’s case.

“Each mobile device also has its own serial number. These numbers generally make it easier for manufacturers to organize and track their products. “Therefore, manufacturers must always have the broadest overview of smart devices produced globally, for example for software updates, warranties, and the like,” added the T-Mobile representative.

In this case, the manufacturer is the American concern Apple. He did not respond to SZ Byznys’ questions about whether he had been asked to cooperate by Czech police in the case.

Another party, the National Anti-Organized Crime Headquarters, which is investigating cases of alleged embezzlement, fraud and money laundering, is also uncooperative.

“I can only state that this matter is still under investigation,” said NCOZ spokesman Jaroslav Ibehej.

The company Plus4U of the Unicorn group also launched its own search for lost phones. The Mammoth company that operates the Mamut.cz electronics store is also part of the same holding company. Unicorn claims Mamut operates independently and its own group is the party defrauded in the case.

Plus4U, which directly owns Mammoth, has now come up with an application called Apple Hunters. People can enter their iPhone serial number and IMEI code into the app to see if it has gone through a Mamut store. The company is offering a reward of 100,000 crowns for finding the lost device. This event will run until the end of September.

The editors tried to find out with Plus4U how successful the application is and how many phones have been invented. “Due to the importance of the information obtained to the investigation, we will not release details at this time. Now it can be said that tens of thousands of users have checked their devices on the app. “All the information found has been handed over to the police,” answered Plus4U media representative Aneta Havlová.

The main figure in the whole case was businessman Břetislav Janoušek, who collaborated with the Mamut store. Last year he even became a member of a working group called Top Management at Unicorn. Unicorn owner, billionaire Vladimír Kovář, also belongs to this group.

Through Mamut, Janoušek purchased telephones and other equipment in large quantities to rent to end customers, through his companies JAE and SBJ Trade.

However, at the end of last year, Janoušek’s company stopped paying its obligations, which is why the company later went bankrupt. Břetislav Janoušek disappeared, as did the confiscated electronics and the money he was supposed to take for them.

Creditors registered Mammoth’s claim at 6.7 billion kroons. The main share fell on the companies T-Mobile and J&T Leasing, which financed the delivery of equipment to Mamut.