India, Aug. 17 -- It looked like routine repair work. A JCB machine at the site, men in reflective safety jackets digging up the road in the dead of night, even documents to show they were contractors for Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL). But the scene on Road Number 29 near Dalda Company in Sion was anything but official.

When residents tipped off the Sion police around 3 am, officers first assumed it was genuine roadwork scheduled at night to avoid traffic chaos. It was only when the labourers began tugging out thick copper cables that suspicions were raised. A team led by inspector Santosh Shewale intervened - and busted a racket that had almost pulled off another high-value copper heist.

The police arrested 15 men from the s...