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2 men charged after 125 batteries stolen from cell towers around Edmonton

An example of the deep cycle batteries being stolen from Edmonton-area cell towers.

Charges have been laid in relation to some of the battery thefts that have occurred around the Edmonton area since Aug. 11.

On Sept. 15, Stony Plain/Spruce Grove/Enoch RCMP issued a release outlining a number of break-ins at locked compounds and cell tower sites in the “Edmonton hub area.”

Detachments in Devon, Morinville, St. Albert, Strathcona County, and Evansburg also received similar complaints since the beginning of August.

Police said the batteries have been stolen from cell towers in various locations, owned by different companies.

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The RCMP said it is possible the batteries are being sold to scrap metal businesses, who have now been alerted about the thefts.

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The batteries are used as a backup, so cell tower operations were not affected by them being stolen, police added.

Cody Henrikson, 32, of Edmonton and Christopher McColman, 35, of Mossbank, Sask. are both facing one criminal charge of break and enter to commit theft over $5,000 in relation to one of the thefts that occurred in Enoch sometime between Sept. 1 and Sept. 5

Henrikson has been released from custody on several conditions. McColman remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday.

The investigation into the other battery thefts continues.

– With files from Karen Bartko, Global News

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