RCMP detachments around Edmonton are investigating a rash of cell tower battery thefts in the past few weeks, and are releasing photos of at least two suspects.
Stony Plain RCMP said since August 24, they have received nine complaints, with a total of 125 batteries being stolen.
Detachments in Devon, Morinville, St. Albert, Strathcona County, and Evansburg have also received similar complaints since the beginning of August.
READ MORE: Two men caught stealing $50,000 worth of industrial batteries
Police said the batteries have been stolen from cell towers in various locations, owned by different companies.
The RCMP said it is possible the batteries are being sold to scrap metal businesses, who have now been alerted about the thefts.
Police said culprits are accessing locked compounds and breaking into cell tower sites in order to remove the batteries. The batteries are used as a backup, so cell tower operations were not affected by them being stolen, police added.
Some of the batteries stolen are described as 12-volt deep cycle batteries. Brands include Deka Unigy, C&D Technologies Long Duration Series, and Northstar NSB 170FT.
The batteries vary in value, but Mounties said all are deemed to be valuable. A search online showed the style of stolen batteries go for several hundred dollars each.
READ MORE: Heavy equipment batteries stolen from same Alberta location twice
Stony Plain RCMP released photos of two suspects in hopes of identifying them.
All of the detachments, along with the RCMP Serious Crimes Unit, are working together to investigate the thefts. It isn’t known if they are all related.
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