Copper wire thieves risking electrocution
BURLINGTON, ONTARIO - Halton police fear someone will die trying to steal expensive copper wire as thieves attack live transformers.
With scrap prices for copper and aluminum having doubled in the last two years and now at an 18-year high, police have noticed a "dangerous trend" in copper wire thefts from active, high-voltage equipment.
"The disturbing part is wire is being taken from active transformers," Detective Constable Ewen Crook said in a statement.
"In each case, the suspects took the grounding wire and did not touch the live wire. Police are concerned tampering with live wires could result in electrocution."
Crook said the Burlington break and enter squad reported five thefts in the city in October in which one-inch thick copper grounding wire was stolen. Police say they are working with reputable scrap metal dealers and other area police forces to track the thieves and have increased patrols in industrial areas. Police are asking that scrap metal and/or copper wire be secured and protected.
Related News
Planning for our electricity future should be led by an independent body
ST. JOHNS - Maintaining a viable electricity network requires good long-term planning. The existing stock of generating assets can become obsolete through aging, changes in fuel prices or environmental considerations. Future changes in demand must be anticipated.
Periodically, an integrated resource plan is created to predict how all this will add up during the ensuing 25 years. That process is currently underway and is led by Nova Scotia Power Inc. (NSPI) and will be submitted for approval to the Utilities and Review Board (UARB).
Coal-fired plants are still the largest single source of electricity in Nova Scotia. They need to be replaced…