Thieves target mobile towers in twin towns

Pune: The Pimpri Chinchwad police are investigating the theft of seven lithium batteries, worth Rs1.7 lakh, from the cellphone towers of a leading mobile telecom company at Talegaon Dabhade and Dehu Road in the last two days.

“The thefts of back-up batteries had affected the mobile network for some time in Pimpri Chinchwad and adjacent areas. We fit a new set of batteries and restarted network,” said a company official.

An officer from the Pimpri Chinchwad police said that in Shirgaon, the suspects stole three batteries worth Rs 90,000 from a box near the tower. The theft happened early on November 8. In Dehu Road, the suspects stole four batteries worth Rs 80,000 in the early hours November 9.