Bengaluru: Parappana Agrahara police have arrested a habitual offender involved in stealing UPS batteries, used for traffic signals, CCTV cameras, and streetlights. They have also recovered 51 batteries along with the autorickshaw used in the crimes.The accused, Chinnadorai, 38, a resident of SRY Layout in Vaddarapalya and native of Villupuram in Tamil Nadu, is engaged in scrap business. Efforts are on to nab his absconding associate.The case came to light after the manager of a private firm in Electronics City, which provides manpower to a township, filed a complaint on Feb 25 stating that the company had installed UPS batteries to ensure uninterrupted power supply to CCTV cameras, streetlights, and traffic signals. Six batteries kept near the roadside in Electronics City Phase 2 and four batteries stored in metal boxes on Shanthipura Main Road were stolen. The theft came to light after power disruptions were reported around 3am.During investigation, police tracked down Chinnadorai and apprehended him in Vaddarapalya on March 9. During interrogation, he allegedly confessed to the theft and revealed that he and his associate stole batteries from various locations across Bengaluru and stored them at his scrap shop. The duo used an autorickshaw to transport the stolen batteries. Chinnadorai admitted to selling the stolen batteries for Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 each. The total value of the recovered property is estimated to be around Rs 4 lakh.Police said Chinnadorai has been involved in such thefts since 2022 and was earlier arrested by Malleswaram and Bandepalya police in related cases.
