Battery thieves target media cabinets in Telford
Police in Telford are investigating after a number of thefts from telephone exchange or media exchange boxes over the past couple of weeks.
Officers believe the boxes are being targeted for the batteries that can be found inside and then sold on.
The most recent incidents were reported to police in the early hours of this morning in Stirchley and Dawley.
During one incident which happened around 12.30am on Cooke Drive in Stirchley, a youth in his late teens was seen forcing open the green street cabinet and then taking a number of batteries from inside.
Whilst police were unable to locate the offender, officers did find a number of batteries discarded in nearby bushes which were seized to be examined for possible forensic evidence.
A police spokesman said:
"In addition to the exchange box on Cooke Drive, police later discovered that exchange boxes on Burlington Close in Stirchley and Hinkshay Road in Dawley had also been forced open and further batteries had been taken from these too.
"These are the latest in a number of offences of this type that have been reported locally over the past couple of weeks - there have been at least ten so far - while we are also aware there have been reports of similar incidents taking place in Walsall and Wolverhampton.
"We would appeal to anyone with information about any of these incidents to come forward and share that information with us. Damaging these boxes can cause disruption to the services provided to local residents, while the person breaking into the exchange box is also putting themselves in danger too.
"Anyone with information about these incidents, or who sees any suspicious behaviour close to one of these exchange boxes, is asked to contact police in Telford on 0300 333 3000 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."
