Metal thieves risking their lives in Gloucestershire
THIEVES are risking life and limb by stealing copper worth as little as £15 from Gloucestershire power points.
But the good news is that increased security has led to a fall this year in the number of thefts from electricity sub-stations in the county.
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CABLE THEFT WARNING: Peter Lowe, operational security manager with Western Power Distribution, with an overhead cable
Figures released by Western Power Distribution, which is responsible for electricity infrastructure such as pylons, cables and sub-stations, show there were 40 incidents in 2011. So far this year, there have been 15.
Peter Lowe, the company's security manager, said it had stepped up the use of measures such as CCTV, fencing, barbed or even electrified wire, patrols and intruder alarms.
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He said the use of the forensically traceable solution, Smartwater, on its equipment had also helped to deter thieves.
But, across the Midlands in the last four years, 10 intruders have died and others have had to have limbs amputated due to electrocution.
Mr Lowe said: "Safety is our number one priority, which is why we have put a raft of measures in place to deter metal theft but we have to remain vigilant.
Voltages
"Perpetrators are prepared to dice with death because of the extremely high voltages involved with our equipment and for very small reward.
"They're also putting at risk the lives of our engineers who have to repair and replace infrastructure that may have been left in an unsafe condition and the lives of innocent members of the public who could become victims."
An example of problems at small sub-stations, in areas including Cheltenham have been people stealing eight metres of copper cable, for which they would receive no more than £25 if they could sell it.
And Mr Lowe said the thieves were costing the company much larger sums of money in terms of the repairs and causing power loss to its customers.
Speaking yesterday at a sub-station in Northway Lane, Tewkesbury, he said Western Power was pleased with the reduced number of thefts in Gloucestershire so far this year.
It was due, he said, to it having forged close links with the police and scrap metal dealers, who have been issued with a booklet and poster to help them easily identify the company's cables. The press conference heard that one of the most serious incidents in Gloucestershire happened in 2010 at Frampton-on-Severn. Thieves climbed up pylons to cut live overhead wires and left them dangling across playing fields. They stole five tonnes worth of copper, worth about £25,000.
Arrests have since been made and alleged offenders are due to make court appearances shortly.
Comments
by 2dooks
Friday, September 07 2012, 1:11PM
“Bob - I'd pay to watch!”
by Matt1006
Friday, September 07 2012, 11:24AM
“Bob_Flaps - 100% agreed. Would serve the thieving s0ds right. The grisly demise of a thief might just make a few others realise the risks they are taking, and stop them from doing it again. Slim hope, though.
Same applies to arsonists, who wreck other people's property (and gas mains...) without a care in the world, yet never seem to get caught up in the fires they start.”
by Bob_Flaps
Friday, September 07 2012, 10:27AM
“Personally I'd laugh my socks off to hear of some theiving scumbag burnt to crisp while trying to nick some electrical wire or blown to bits while trying to nick some gas piping.”
by Jewbacca
Friday, September 07 2012, 9:59AM
“I've had my 20 metres of copper gas piping stolen from outside my flat recently. Luckily the gas was turned off as i'm renovating the place, but according to the workmen who fixed it they don't care - it just gets hacked off anyways, leaving the gas firing out.
Even better they stood on the main supply pipe and cracked it, hence when this was discovered my neighbours were without gas for 2 days as well.
Considering the risk they put other people in, both from gas inhalation and those who have to fix it, it's high time these scum got mandatory 5 year sentences.”
by paul813
Friday, September 07 2012, 7:15AM
“if they die thats tough serves them right , they even steal from hospitals so they dont give a monkeys if anyone else suffers because they would sooner steal than work for their money , people returning home to find their houses stripped of all the pipework even roof flashing . if they dont die from electrocution whilst stealing from power stations etc but are left badly burnt the hosp should refuse to treat them , there was a case where they stole from a building at chelt general they building contained the back up generators , the scumbags have no morals”