Thieves are targeting backup batteries at isolated phone towers west of Geelong, police have revealed.
The thefts could threaten the availability of mobile phone services during power outages, with the industrial-sized batteries powering towers and exchanges during blackouts.
Police called for public help to catch the alleged thieves, with batteries totalling thousands of dollars in value going missing last month.
The culprits had stolen more than 50 in three separate raids on local tower sites, police posted on social media this week.
The thieves first took 12 batteries from a tower at Cressy before swiping 16 from a Buckley exchange the same night.
The thieves struck again when they later stole 24 batteries in six sets of four from a Fyansford base station, police alleged.
The Buckley haul alone weighed over a tonne, police said, with each battery 65kg.
The weight of the batteries suggested more than one thief was involved, police said, and they were probably using a “larger-style vehicle”.
The batteries could keep telecommunication sites running for several hours without mains electrical power.
“The batteries that are being stolen are similar in appearance to 12V car batteries but are larger in size and have a higher output capacity, police said.
“These batteries can be run down and then recharged a number of times due to the high amounts of lithium.
“They come in numerous brands and sizes. They can weigh up to 80kg.”
Police urged anyone with information to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
