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Last updated on Wednesday, May 15, 2013
(INDIANAPOLIS) - An anonymous tip led police to recover batteries that were stripped out of 13 church buses on the east side of Indianapolis, and police said they have strong leads on who stole them.
The buses parked behind the Calvary Temple Church at 2901 N. Post Road were found to be without their batteries on Monday, but police said the church received a mysterious anonymous tip about the thief.
The caller identified himself as "Ray" and he provided the name of the person now suspected in the crime. He also mentioned the scrap yard on Bluff Road, where the thief had taken the batteries in exchange for cash.
Batteries have been stolen from truck lots and other industrial yards throughout Indianapolis in growing numbers over the past few months as thieves cash in on the high prices being paid for the heavy metals inside truck batteries.
Police responded to the church Monday and followed the trail provided by the anonymous tipster. Officers said they found 16 of the batteries that were taken from the buses.
Those batteries, with a total value of just over $400, have been returned to the church.
The owner of the scrap yard handed over transaction receipts that included information about the suspected thief.
Police now have the name of the man who brought in 18 batteries that are now being linked to the church buses.
The scrap yard reported that it purchased those batteries on Sunday.
No arrest has been made, but charges are pending against the seller.
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