Copper thefts are back
Published Tuesday August 19th, 2008
Crime Thieves are well equipped, organized and the copper is being taken elsewhere
SAINT JOHN - The president and CEO of Saint John Energy is concerned about the recurrence of copper wire theft around the city.
The utility has been struck three times in the past couple of weeks, most recently on Saturday night, when thieves broke into the substation on Millidge Avenue.
"We thought we had this more or less behind us last fall, when there was quite a rash of copper theft going on at our substations and at various locations outside," Eric Marr said Monday.
"We took some action at that time and we thought that had put it to bed. It seemed to go quiet for quite a while, but now it's appeared again.
"I'm not sure exactly what's going on, but we find it very, very frustrating to chase around and do repairs to the damage caused by these thieves, who are getting very little value for what they're taking, but they're costing us a lot of money."
Marr explained that Saint John Energy began using a high-tech identifying system last year and the thefts seemed to subside. The utility has been using what is known as a 'data dot' - a microscopic paint dot that is serialized. The dots have serial numbers and it's applied like spray paint on the wire. The material is sensitive to ultraviolet rays, so if you pass an ultraviolet light over the wire that has been marked, it glows. Then you can more closely inspect it and see the dots and you can identify who the wire belongs to.
"We did that last fall with the assistance of the police force and thought it would have deterred people," said Marr. "It was well publicized in the media and we thought the issue was put to bed, since (thieves) know it's a marked product they'll stay away from it."
The recent thefts are giving Marr second thoughts.
"Either they've forgotten, or there's a new crowd in town," he said. "All of a sudden, there's another rash of thefts. We hope it's not going to go much further. We are inspecting our substations routinely, looking for signs of entry or damage of any sort, but that's after the fact."
Marr said utilities across Canada are experiencing the same problem - thieves risking their lives for a product that sells for about $3 to $4 per pound at salvage yards.
"We're investigating some other things that perhaps will deter or allow a would-be thief to be caught," he said.
Marr said the theft of copper wire is a problem across Canada.
"They're breaking into houses under construction to steal wire. Industrial sites are being raided. It's not only us -this is a national problem.
"We're investigating what other utilities across Canada are doing about it. We're looking to see what the best practices are out there. We thought the data dot was one of them, but we're not so sure now."
Marr says the thieves are very organized. They are using expensive tools and they know where to find what they're looking for.
"Part of me believes this isn't just an opportunistic kind of thing," he said.
"I think it's more of a very planned and organized operation. This wire that's being taken isn't appearing at our local salvage dealers at all. It's being collected by somebody and taken elsewhere. The evidence tells us that the people who are entering our yards know what they're doing and they come equipped with the appropriate tools to do it."
Marr said the most recent incident, which netted thieves about $2,000 worth of wire, will result in a cost of about $18,000 to the utility to make repairs.
"The major issue is the danger that's created," he added.
"They're stealing a key part of the electrical system. If they touch the wrong wire at the wrong time, they certainly will get hurt," he added, noting work crews are beginning to fear what they might find at a site.
"Our crews have a fear of finding a body, or being hurt themselves at a facility that's been vandalized."
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