Thiruvananthapuram: The increasing cases of mobile tower theft troubles police and mobile operators. As many as 36 mobile towers have disappeared in the state as per records. A tower of GTL Limited was dismantled and stolen by a group of men, who claimed themselves as the staff of the telecom company.

The installation of each mobile tower with at least 12 tonnes of steel costs at least Rs 50 lakh to the operators. Police inferred that those who are involved in the trade of old steel might be behind the robbery. 

Each tower can fetch up to Rs 3 lakh if sold at scrap rate. The generator and batteries are also being robbed along with the steel parts. 

The thieves deceive the land owners by introducing themselves as the employees of the mobile operator and inform that the tower will be dismantled as it is no longer functional. They camp near the tower for hours to pull apart the tower with a height of up to 50 metres, said police.