Pune: In a daring and unusual theft, thieves in Pune’s Wagholi area stole copper wires worth ₹17.51 lakh from a warehouse belonging to Agrreko Energy Rental India Pvt. Ltd. on Nagar Road.

The incident came to light after the thieves created a small tunnel to infiltrate the premises, utilizing an elaborate strategy to remove 73 bundles of copper wires undetected.

The theft was reported by Sandeep Gurav, the owner of the company, who filed a complaint at the Lonikand Police Station.

According to Gurav, the warehouse, which produces copper wires and other electrical materials, is secured on all four sides with large metal sheets. On the night of the incident, the thieves dug a small tunnel around the area of the sheeted shed to gain access.

Once inside, the thieves unscrewed the metal sheet nuts to enter the facility and made away with the copper wires, estimated at ₹17.51 lakh in value. The theft was discovered early in the morning when employees found the copper wire bundles missing. Assistant Police Inspector Amar Kadam is currently leading the investigation into the incident.

Earlier in August, Chakan police arrested eight members of a gang involved in stealing copper wires from electric transformers. The police recovered 340 kg of copper wires and strips, along with a car and five motorcycles used in the crimes, all valued at around eight lakh rupees.

The suspects, including Ramesh alias Rahul Balu Padwal, Sunil alias Sairat Shivaji Gawade, Sunil Suresh Gawade, Ravindra Suresh Gawade, Usman Bilal Abdul Herera, and Kartik Namdev Pawar, confessed to the thefts during interrogation.