THREE incidents of overhead power lines thefts have happened in just four days in the Ribble Valley.

Electricity North West said it is urging residents to report overnight power losses in a bid to crackdown on a spate of thefts this week.

It is believed thieves are targeting more rural areas, where only a small number of properties are affected.

In the latest yesterday the thieves cut down and stole around 100 metres of low voltage overhead copper lines in Ribchester. Other incidents took place in Billington on Monday and Chatburn on Saturday, and all took place between 12am and 3am.

Several coils of copper were also found abandoned at the site when engineers and police arrived.

Cutting down overhead lines would take some time and it is thought the thieves came equipped with climbing gear.

Jane Fleetwood, Electricity North West’s response manager, said: “In the last couple of weeks we have seen electricity supplies to customers in the more remote parts of the Ribble Valley affected after a spate of thefts of overhead copper lines.

“The thieves appear to be targeting more rural places as not only is there less chance of them being seen, but typically residents in these areas tend to wait for power to be restored rather than report the fault to us.

“In stealing the overhead lines the thieves are not only leaving remote properties without electricity and causing costly repairs, but they are also putting their lives and the lives of the general public at risk for the sake of stealing scrap metal.

“If customers do suffer a loss of supply we would ask them to report this to us on 0800 195 4141 so we can liaise quickly with local police and our engineers can restore supplies as quickly as possible.”