Pune: The Crime Branch Unit 6 has successfully busted a gang involved in stealing copper wires from electrical transformers (DPs). The gang used a sophisticated method of draining oil from transformers, disabling the electrical flow, and stealing the copper wires. This theft resulted in prolonged power outages, affecting entire villages and disrupting businesses.
Acting on information provided by constable Balasaheb Tanpure and technical analysis, the police arrested four individuals linked to the thefts. During the investigation, 12 cases of transformer copper wire theft were solved, and stolen goods worth ₹10.42 lakh were recovered.
Arrested Individuals
The arrested individuals have been identified as:
Abrar Bilal Ahmed (24), resident of Jamuni, Siddharthnagar district, Uttar Pradesh.
Aftab Niyamatullah Khan (32), resident of Borigaon, Uran, Navi Mumbai.
Nafees Hameed Abdul (23), originally from Jamuni, Siddharthnagar, Uttar Pradesh, currently residing in Kondhapuri, Shirur taluka.
Mobeen Hameed Abdul, resident of Kondhapuri, Shirur taluka.
The gang had been stealing copper wires weighing 75-80 kilograms from each transformer. Over the past year, they executed multiple thefts in the jurisdictions of Lonikand and Wagholi police stations.
Impact of the Thefts
The thefts caused significant damage, leading to frequent power outages and delays in transformer repairs. Entire villages faced prolonged darkness, while businesses incurred losses due to power disruption.
This operation was carried out under the guidance of Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police Ranjankumar Sharma, Additional Commissioner of Police Shailesh Balakawade, Deputy Commissioner of Police Nikhil Pingle, and Assistant Commissioner of Police Rajendra Mulik.
The team was led by Inspector Waheed Pathan and included Assistant Inspectors Madan Kamble and Ramkrishna Dalvi, along with constables Balasaheb Sakate, Nitin Munde, Kanifnath Karkhele, Ramesh Memane, Suhas Tambekar, Rishikesh Takawane, Sachin Pawar, Sameer Pilane, Rishikesh Vyavhare, Balasaheb Tanpure, Shekhar Kate, and Pratiksha Pansare.