Three Held for String of Copper Wire Thefts in NCR

In a major breakthrough, Mahrauli police have arrested three men linked to a series of 18 theft cases involving copper wire and cash from electrical shops in Delhi-NCR. The accused—Sonu from Shahdara, Arif and Chand from Loni—were nabbed following a tip-off after a May 12-13 burglary at an IGNOU Road shop. Acting on CCTV clues, officers intercepted a Swift Dzire car carrying fake plates and recovered bundles of stolen copper, cash worth Rs 3.98 lakh, and tools used in the break-ins. The gang reportedly operated under cover of their day jobs as tempo and auto drivers, switching to night-time thefts using disguised vehicles. Police say the group carefully avoided detection by maintaining regular work routines and using multiple fake registration plates. With three more suspects still absconding, special teams continue combing operations in Delhi and Ghaziabad. Officials emphasize that the recovered cash and vehicle form crucial evidence tying the accused to previous thefts. The case highlights the rising trend of organized thefts targeting electrical shops for valuable copper.