The head of police for Moscow's subway system has said stations will soon be equipped with devices that can read the data on the mobile telephones of passengers.



In the July 29 edition of "Izvestia," Moscow Metro police chief Andrei Mokhov said the device would be used to help locate stolen mobile phones.



Mokhov said the devices have a range of about 5 meters and can read the SIM card.



If the card is on the list of stolen phones, the system automatically sends information to the police.



The time and place of the alert can be matched to closed-circuit TV in stations.



"Izvestia" reported that "according to experts, the devices can be used more widely to follow all passengers without exception."



Mokhov said it was illegal to track a person without permission from the authorities, but that there was no law against tracking the property of a company, such as a SIM card.



Based on reporting by "Izvestia" and ITAR-TASS