On Independence Day, while the police were on high alert across the city, a daring heist was foiled in the Sion Fort area. A gang of around 30 men was caught using a JCB excavator to dig up and steal underground MTNL copper cables.

Sion police arrested 14 men on the spot and seized the JCB machine along with cutters, hammers, and other equipment. The stolen property included nearly 60 feet of copper cable worth Rs 1.35 lakh, but police estimate the gang’s planned haul could have been worth Rs 30–40 lakh in a single night. Subsequently, an FIR was registered by an employee of MTNL. 

This is not an isolated incident. Recently, on August 2 and 3, unknown individuals struck in Goregaon’s Nana-Nani park located on SV Road, stealing nearly 360 metres of MTNL’s copper cable worth Rs 21.6 lakh. Police say copper cable theft has become a major menace across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Thane, targeting MTNL and private telecom operators alike. Each theft causes huge financial losses and also disrupts telephone and internet services for residents and businesses. “Copper theft is easy money for crooks because it can be quickly resold in the scrap market,” said officers.

Police sources said the theft was allegedly masterminded by a notorious scrap dealer known as “Bhangarwala”, who remains absconding. They claimed he runs a city-wide racket worth crores, recruiting local gangsters and hiring daily-wage labourers to do the heavy lifting and ground work. The gangs usually operate between 2 am and 5 am, disguising the theft as routine maintenance work so passersby rarely suspect foul play.

All the arrested accused have been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). They have been remanded to police custody till August 18. Cops are searching for another key associate in the racket.

Source