Four charged for alleged telecommunications battery theft
Published:Friday | August 8, 2025 | 7:57 PM
The police have arrested and charged four men for allegedly stealing high-value lithium-ion batteries between June 27 and June 29, a development the police have described as significant progress in combatting telecommunication infrastructure theft.
The men were arrested in coordinated raids across Kingston, Manchester, Clarendon and Trelawny during which several batteries valued over $1.6 million were reportedly recovered.
Those arrested are 27-year-old Eric Robinson, of Spanish Town Road, Kingston 13; 47-year-old Gawaine Frater of Albert Town, Trelawny; 37-year-old Andre Dixon of Pimento Hill, Manchester; and 27-year-old Odane Needham of Longville Park, Clarendon and Pimento Hill, Manchester.
Robinson was charged with simple larceny, trespassing on telecommunication facility and malicious destruction of property; Frater has been charged with receiving stolen property; Needham was charged with conspiracy to receiving stolen property; and Dixon was charged with receiving stolen property.
The police say, as of April 2025, more than $120 million worth of lithium batteries have been recovered.
Head of the Criminal Investigations Branch, Assistant Commissioner of Police Wayne Josephs said the police are ramping up their efforts against infrastructure theft.
“The theft of these high-value batteries not only impacts telecommunication companies but also disrupts essential services for the public. We will continue to collaborate closely with our partners in the private sector to bring these perpetrators to justice,” said Josephs.
Anyone with information that can assist the police in their investigations is asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Branch at 876-929-9256, Crime Stop at 311, the National Intelligence Bureau at 811 or the nearest police station.
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