In a daring heist, thieves made off with five charging guns along with cables worth approximately Rs 5.5 lakh from an electric vehicle (EV) public charging station in Khatodara, Surat. To avoid being identified, the culprits also stole the CCTV camera and its wiring from the facility.
Complaint Filed
Khatodara police registered a case based on a complaint filed by Gajanand Baisane, a senior engineer with Prozeal Green Energy Ltd. The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) had awarded the company a contract to establish, operate, and maintain 25 EV charging stations across the city. One such station was set up near Rayka Circle and was under the supervision of company employee Nishar Shaikh.
Discovery of Theft
On May 25, when Shaikh visited the charging station, he discovered that cables were missing. He immediately informed Baisane, who rushed to the spot. Upon inspection, they found that thieves had stolen five charging guns from two charging units along with their connecting cables. The accused also removed the CCTV camera and its wiring, as well as lighting cables installed at the facility.
Police Investigation
Based on Baisane's complaint, Khatodara police booked unidentified persons for theft and launched an investigation into the incident. Authorities are examining nearby CCTV footage and gathering evidence to track down the suspects.
This incident highlights the growing vulnerability of EV infrastructure in the city. As Surat expands its electric vehicle network, security measures at charging stations need to be strengthened to prevent such thefts.
