New Delhi: Samaypur Badli police have arrested two people and recovered 20 stolen lithium batteries while investigating an alleged theft network operating across Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Police said 14 cases registered at the station had been worked out.
Five other people were bound down in the case, according to the police account.
CCTV review followed electric-scooter complaint
The investigation began after a September 30 complaint about a battery stolen from an electric scooter in Badli. Investigators examined footage from approximately 50–60 CCTV cameras and identified a suspect, police said.
The two arrested men were identified by police as Lakshay Singh, 19, and Vikas, 24. Police said Lakshay was apprehended after technical analysis and local inquiries, while Vikas was traced to Hathras district in Uttar Pradesh during further investigation.
Seven batteries recovered in Hathras, 13 in Mandoli
Police alleged that stolen batteries were dismantled after their GPS devices were removed and sent on buses from Anand Vihar ISBT to Uttar Pradesh. Investigators said payments were transferred online and the batteries were subsequently passed through intermediaries.
Seven batteries were recovered at Vikas’s instance, police said. A further 13 were recovered from a godown in Mandoli, Delhi, at the instance of two other people. The recovered batteries were in dismantled condition.
Police also reported recovering a scooter allegedly used in the offences and a bag containing tools allegedly used for battery theft.
Further investigation into the network
Police said the inquiry was continuing to establish the full chain of theft, dismantling, transport and disposal, identify other associates and trace the proceeds of crime.
