'Copper Wire' Theft in Mumbai: Five Scrap Dealers Arrested for Stealing Copper Wires Worth Rs 6-7 Lakh After Digging Up Footpath in Dadar-Matunga Area
An MTN official said the incident occurred mainly in the Dadar TT Circle area. The officials also said 105 metres of copper wire worth lakhs of rupees were stolen. Acting on the complaint, cops laid a trap on Sunday night, June 9, and arrested the thieves, who arrived with the staff of the contractor.
Mumbai, June 11: A bizarre incident of theft has come to light from Mumbai, where crooks allegedly dug up a footpath in the Dadar area to steal copper wire. The incident came to light when local residents made a follow-up with authorities over uprooted paver blocks on a footpath on the Dadar-Matunga stretch of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road. Residents learned the footpath was dug up to steal copper wire from utility cables.
According to a report in the Hindustan Times, the copper wire theft scam came to light when local residents approached the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after a footpath was allegedly dug up between Kings Circle and Dadar TT Circle. Local residents said that the civic body had carried out work on the footpath a fortnight ago before it was found dug up again. Mumbai Shocker: 17-Year-Old Sexually Assaults Minor Girl at Home After She Refuses To Buy Him Cigarette, Arrested.
Local Residents Complaint Unearths 'Copper Wire' Theft
When civic officials reached the spot to assess the situation of the stock, they discovered that thieves had dug up the footpath to steal copper wires from the utility cables under it. Nikhil Desai, a resident of Wadala who approached BMC, said that the civic body informed him about the theft of copper wires from the utility cables.
Desa further said that thieves carried out the work after 11 p.m., digging up the footpath to remove the cables and steal the copper wire. The Matunga police began investigating after Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) lodged a complaint claiming that over 400 of the company's telephone lines had tripped in the Dadar-Matunga area.
105 Metres of Copper Wires Stolen, Says MTNL Official
An MTN official said the incident occurred mainly in the Dadar TT Circle area. The officials also said 105 metres of copper wire worth lakhs of rupees were stolen. Acting on the complaint, cops laid a trap on Sunday night, June 9, and arrested the thieves, who arrived with the staff of the contractor. Police officials also said that the five accused whom they arrested were scrap dealers who had planned to sell the copper wires. Mumbai Police Nab Two from Rajasthan for Motorcycle Thefts.
Meanwhile, cops are not ruling out the possible involvement of more people in the theft, as they said that it was not possible for five people to dig the entire stretch. On the other hand, the theft left the BMC stunned, as an official said that the civic body did not sanction any work at the ward level or by other departments. The five accused are believed to have stolen copper wires worth Rs 6-7 lakh.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 11, 2024 05:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).