Two persons were arrested for stealing around 150 kg of copper coils and wires from borewells in farming villages near Jolarpet town in Tirupattur on Wednesday.

The arrested persons were identified as S. Karthik, 21, and V. Dhanush, 21. They are residents of Tirupattur. Initial inquiry revealed that B. Umapathy, 53, a farmer, noticed damage to a borewell in his three-acre farmland. He also noticed that copper coils and wires in the motor pumpset were stolen. Copper coils were used as windings in the electrical equipment. 

Umapathy informed Jolarpet police, who reached to the spot. The police said that a similar copper wire theft had been reported by farmers in surrounding villages. Each kilogram of copper coil from an electrical equipment could be sold in the open market for around ₹50-60. 

Surveillance was increased in farming villages in the region that had more than 350 motor pump sets and borewells to irrigate paddy fields. A case was registered by Jolarpet police. Special teams were formed to nab the suspects. CCTV camera footage was also tracked in the region.

Later, a police patrol team near Jolarpet intercepted the duo carrying around 10 kg of copper wires and coils and arrested them after an inquiry.

The police also recovered a large quantity of copper coils and wires from a hideout belonging to them. Arrested persons were lodged at sub-jail in Tirupattur town. A probe is under way.