The Case of the Lost Cell phone

On Tuesday (5th September 2006), I lost my cell phone on my way to office. I got into an auto, a few steps away from my hostel.
I usually keep my cell phone in the pouch of my one-way bag. As soon as I got into the auto, and the auto travelled few metres, I realised my cell phone was missing. I went back to the place, where I got into the auto and traced my way back till the hostel. Within that time, somebody had picked up my phone and switched it off.

Fact about IMEI number
When one's cellphone gets stolen or lost, the most one can do is lock and de-activate his/her sim card by calling the service provider(BSNL, Airtel, Aircel, Hutch,etc.). In Chennai, R.K.Nagar(near Mandaveli) is the main office to go to do it.
Here again, mine was a Coimbatore BSNL number. So after going to RK Nagar telephone exchange, I was told to call up Coimbatore service centre (No: 94431 24365) and de-activate it.
Nothing can be done if you know the IMEI number other than that it will be useful to register police complaint. I called up the Nokia care (Ph: 30303838). They said it is just for their reports that they will record it. The myth that you can deactivate your phone using the IMEI number is NOT TRUE. IMEI number is just a unique number to identify your handset(for cases of verification like you are giving it in a service centre and getting it back).

How to register complaint without going to police station in person
This article says how to register a complaint for lost cell phone without going to police station.

About International Mobile Equipment Identity(IMEI) number by Nokia