Shocking Incident! Nearly ten electric vehicle batteries stolen overnight… The Haikou police have launched an investigation.
On April 8, multiple electric vehicle owners discovered that their batteries had been stolen from charging stations outside the Siji Huating community on Huating Road in the Longhua District of Haikou. Nearly ten batteries had been forcibly removed, leaving scattered battery covers and disordered wires at the scene. It has been reported that this area has previously experienced similar thefts, but the audacity of the thieves this time is particularly alarming. The police from the Haikou Chengxi station have intervened in the investigation.
Ms. Wang, a resident of the Siji Huating community, expressed her frustration, saying, “I found my electric vehicle battery cover pried open, and the battery was gone!” Early in the morning, several electric vehicle owners arrived at the charging station to retrieve their vehicles only to find their batteries missing. Upon visiting the scene, the reporters observed that the charging station was situated approximately 20 meters from the left side of the guard booth at the community entrance. Many battery covers were violently pried open, and some vehicle wiring had been torn apart, with the batteries nowhere to be found.
Mr. Li, another community resident, noted that this was not the first time such incidents had occurred in the area. “Previously, it was occasional thefts of one or two batteries, but this time it’s outrageous! They stole nearly ten batteries in one night!” He speculated that the thieves might be part of a group that took advantage of the night when no one was watching to carry out a large-scale theft of batteries from the vehicles parked near the charging stations.
According to Mr. Hu, the property manager of the Siji Huating community, Huating Road is a municipal road, and the area around the charging station does not fall under the community’s management. Due to fire safety regulations, most residents park their vehicles outdoors to charge, making the charging stations, located just outside the community wall, less secure. “We have advised residents to park their vehicles back in the community after charging, but some owners prefer convenience and leave their vehicles on the roadside overnight,” Mr. Hu added. The property management has acknowledged the issue and is planning to install additional electric vehicle charging shelters within the community.
Following the incident, police from the Chengxi substation of the Haikou Public Security Bureau arrived at the scene to collect evidence and register the stolen vehicles. The police have stated that they have opened a case and will investigate suspicious individuals, urging victims to report their losses promptly. “I hope the police can increase patrols in this area, especially at night,” said Mr. Chen, a victim of the theft. The value of each stolen battery amounts to several hundred yuan, causing not only financial losses but also impacting daily commutes. Some residents suggested that the management of the charging stations should install surveillance cameras or assign personnel to monitor the area to help prevent such incidents in the future.
In recent years, incidents of electric vehicle battery theft have become increasingly common, with thieves often targeting unattended charging stations or parking spots. The police remind vehicle owners to consider installing anti-theft locks or GPS tracking devices and to report any suspicious activity immediately. The investigation into this case remains ongoing.
