Thieves have been targeting copper wire on power poles in rural Waikato. File picture. Photo: 123RF
Someone is stealing wire from power poles in rural Waikato and leaving behind a life-threatening hazard as exposed metal parts become live.
Since the beginning of August, Waipā Networks has had more than 40 electrical earthing wire thefts across their network. The thieves seem to be targeting the copper wiring.
Waipā Networks owns and operates the electricity network that delivers power to Cambridge, Te Awamutu and the surrounding Waipā region.
Chief executive Sean Horgan said the thieves, who mostly targeted Waipa's rural areas, clearly knew what they were after.
"The copper runs down the side of typically a concrete power pole, it's covered in insulation so it's not that apparent, so whomever is doing this knows what they are doing," he said.
He estimated that each length of copper might sell for $20 to $30, but would each cost the electricity network provider around $1000 to fix.
"This will probably cost us close to $35,000 to remediate."
Horgan said they dealt with a similar issue a few years ago and other networks also faced spates of theft of this nature.
"Someone is quite purposeful at going through and stealing the copper earths," he said.
The network is replacing the copper with a lower value wire with no scrap metal value.
Horgan said the network's asset inspectors picked up the problem a few months ago.
"Because there is this spate of theft we have increased the volume of those inspections," he said.
The network is working with the police and, through the police, scrap metal dealers.
"Though I'd suggest they are selling the copper perhaps not through normal channels," he said.
Horgan asked for the public to also report anything suspicious.
"If members of the public see someone that is doing something to our power pole, and it's not a Waipā Networks team [member], please contact either ourselves or the police."
He said Waipā Networks team members would have a branded vehicle near where they were working so a different vehicle nearby could be a clue.
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