SYDNEY, N.S. — Nova Scotia Power has issued a warning to anyone considering stealing copper wire from its facilities that they would be potentially placing themselves and others in harm’s way by doing so.
The company has been the target of copper wire thefts in Cape Breton over the past month. In some cases, thieves are stealing ground wires.
David Rodenhiser, a spokesperson for Nova Scotia Power, said there have been recent thefts in areas in Cape Breton including North Sydney, Big Baddeck, Grand Narrows and Kempt Head.
He said the thefts seem to come in spates, and there has been a recent wave of incidents.
“It’s a very dangerous thing to do,” he said. “People have been very seriously injured and even killed trying to steal copper wire in the past from poles and substations,” he said.
There was an incident on the eastern shore within the last few years where someone was seriously injured trying to steal copper wire, Rodenhiser said.
“It’s not worth the risk,” he said, noting it also places NSP employees in danger as they respond to incidents and try to repair damage, and also potential power interruptions for customers.
In a news release, Paul Casey, Nova Scotia Power vice-president of transmission, distribution and delivery, said a significant amount of live wire has been stolen from electrical equipment, at great risk to both personal and public safety.
“Live wire can carry more than 25,000 volts of electricity so there is a very high risk of electrocution. A charge from that wire would be life threatening or fatal for anyone in the vicinity and can cause significant damage to our equipment. Not to mention, removing the wire can generate an unstable electrical current for nearby customers and create dangerous working conditions for our crews,” he said.
The company’s corporate security department has provided details of thefts to local authorities, and both the Cape Breton Regional Police and the Baddeck RCMP have been investigating.
Nova Scotia Power and the Cape Breton Regional Police are asking anyone with information on these copper wire thefts to report it as soon as possible to Cape Breton Regional Police at 1-902-563-5151, Baddeck RCMP at 1-902-295-2350, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. A reward may be available to any individual who can provide Crime Stoppers with information on these thefts that leads to an arrest.
Members of the public can anonymously report suspicious activity anytime via the Nova Scotia Power website at: www.nspower.ca/customer-service/report-suspicious-activity/theft.
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