Bengaluru: Police have arrested three accused, including two from Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly stealing electrical materials by posing as staff of BSNL in Yeshwanthpur.

The arrested have been identified as Ravi Chauhan (32) and Sandeep Chandrapal (23) from Uttar Pradesh, and Syed Zahed Hasan (40). Police have seized 4,140 modules and 66 metres of copper cable worth around ₹7 lakh from them.

According to police, a complaint was filed on April 19 by a BSNL staff member at Yeshwanthpur Police Station. Based on the complaint, an investigation was launched.

The accused had travelled from Uttar Pradesh to Bengaluru via Delhi and were staying in a rented house in Yeshwanthpur. Police said the thefts took place between April 17 and 19.

The accused allegedly wore BSNL staff uniforms and arrived in a car to carry out the thefts. They damaged electrical pillars and stole modules and copper cables installed on footpaths in areas under Malleswaram, Sadashivanagar, Yeshwanthpur, and Mathikere police limits.

Police said a fourth accused, identified as Shoaib, is absconding and efforts are underway to trace him.