DeterTech says UK wind farms at risk of copper cabling theft
Eve Goode
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Crime analysts at DeterTech have announced that they have identified that copper cabling theft is on the rise in the UK.
The company says that this type of crime is more commonly seen in mainland Europe and North America.
Copper cabling theft
The theft of copper cabling from inside wind turbines has historically been rare in the UK.
However, the company states that this has dramatically changed over the past month as there has been nine reported offences since 14 April suggesting an organised group is targeting the industry.
According to company, the targeted locations span several counties, including:
- Cambridgeshire
- Bedfordshire
- Derbyshire
- Essex
- Humberside
- Northamptonshire
- North Yorkshire
- Lincolnshire
In one instance, three turbines within a single wind farm complex were broken into, further underscoring the scale and potential coordination of these operations.
The theft
Detertech states that once offenders have gained entry, the turbine door is forcibly opened and the electricity supply is isolated to eliminate the risk of electrocution.
The copper cabling is then cut and removed.
The offenders appear undeterred by the fact that the turbines are active at the time of entry, indicating a high level of confidence and familiarity with the infrastructure.
“Urging wind farm management companies”
Richard Crisp, Intelligence Analyst, DeterTech said: “With such a surge of cable theft incidents in the UK, we are urging wind farm management companies to inspect their turbines for any signs of tampering or theft.
“Any incidents need to be reported immediately to the local police.”
Crisp concluded: “Additionally, we encourage operators to review recent CCTV footage for any suspicious activity, particularly around entrance gates and to remain vigilant to unfamiliar vehicles or individuals near their sites”.
