Thieves are risking their lives and innocent members of the public by stealing copper wiring, police in Rhondda Cynon Taff are warning.
In the last week £4,000 worth of copper has been stolen from an electricity substation in the Taff and an earlier attempt was made in the Cynon Valley to steal overhead copper cables.
Police are warning those responsible that they are not only exposing themselves, and others, to the risk of fatal injuries but the disruption to power supplies could also have serious consequences for the public and emergency services.
The latest incident happened in the early hours of today (Wednesday, May 5) at a farm above Cilfyndd Common, Pontypridd, where someone cut down a pole at a substation and stole copper wiring worth an estimated £4,000.
A second incident occurred at Tirfounder Fields in Aberdare, at around 11pm on Friday, April 30, where a wooden pole of an overhead power line was cut down causing considerable damage, and resulting in a power cut to a number of nearby homes. However, nothing was stolen on this occasion.
Engineers attended both incidents to make the areas safe and enquiries are on-going to trace those responsible.
Chief Inspector Keith Prosser, from South Wales Police, said: “Cutting into any piping where mains services are connected is very dangerous.
“People who carry out this type of crime expose themselves and others to possible serious injury, or even worse.”
If you see any suspicious activity of people loading metal or copper piping into a vehicle then please call the police immediately.
Anyone who is offered copper in suspicious circumstances, or has information about either of these crimes, is urged to contact South Wales Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
