33 Hyndburn electricity substations raided by metal thieves in just one month (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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33 Hyndburn electricity substations raided by metal thieves in just one month
1:26pm Monday 14th November 2011 in Rishton
THIEVES are taking their lives in their hands on a daily basis as break-ins to electricity substations soar.
Accrington police reported 33 break-ins in just one month, with some sub-stations targeted repeatedly.
The problem is said to be centered on Rishton, with some also taking place in Accrington and Great Harwood.
PC Roger Brindle said people were forcing their way into the small shed-like units, ignoring warning signs and putting themselves at the mercy of ‘life threatening voltages’, to try to steal metal.
The cost of damage to stations is around £400 a time.
There has also been concern at children being able to access the opened stations.
PC Brindle said: “It’s a massive risk, as life-threatening voltages run through these stations.
"The problem is with thieves breaking in to steal very large, thick cables.
"The substations are linked to the national grid and cost hundreds to repair each time they are messed with.”
PC Louis Boyle said patrols were targeting the problem.
He said: “There have been about ten in the last four days.
"As well as the risks, the cost to Electricity North West will end up being passed back to customers, and it has the potential to cause blackouts.”
Anyone with information should call police on 0845 1253545 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
Comments(16)
useyourhead
says...
1:57pm Mon 14 Nov 11
Rumpole
says...
2:05pm Mon 14 Nov 11
The profits of these utility companies are supposed to go towards providing cheaper and sustainable energy supplies for the future but i don't see my bills getting any cheaper while their profits are rising, can you?
LawAbidingCitizen_MS
says...
2:12pm Mon 14 Nov 11
Rumpole wrote:That still doesn't give them the right to go and steal cables.
maybe they are stealing the big thick cables to sell so they can pay their electricity and gas bills..........
The profits of these utility companies are supposed to go towards providing cheaper and sustainable energy supplies for the future but i don't see my bills getting any cheaper while their profits are rising, can you?
At the end of the day all of us our going through recession, everything is on the rise and still is, i.e petrol, food, tax etc. We still have to put up with it and pay up, don't see why it should be different for anyone else, do u?
Livesey rover
says...
2:55pm Mon 14 Nov 11
Rumpole
says...
2:58pm Mon 14 Nov 11
LawAbidingCitizen_MS wrote:Why is it that a tongue in cheek comment is always taken seriously by the cockerel in mouth brigade?
Rumpole wrote:That still doesn't give them the right to go and steal cables.
maybe they are stealing the big thick cables to sell so they can pay their electricity and gas bills..........
The profits of these utility companies are supposed to go towards providing cheaper and sustainable energy supplies for the future but i don't see my bills getting any cheaper while their profits are rising, can you?
At the end of the day all of us our going through recession, everything is on the rise and still is, i.e petrol, food, tax etc. We still have to put up with it and pay up, don't see why it should be different for anyone else, do u?
I do not condone these thefts at all, the same as i don't condone these companies making obscene profits off the backs of ordinary working people.
Prices are going up to protect the profits of these big companies and to feed the greedy bosses that can't survive life without millions of pounds in wages.
I would estimate that for every pound these companies make at least half of it is taken out of the economy forever so no wonder we are in a recession and being forced to pay higher prices for everything.
These big companies that make billions of pounds a year should be made to create more jobs out of their profits.
There are alternative energy sources but these will not become widespread until people can afford to have them installed but they can't do that when they don't have the money in the first place.
We are held to ransom by these companies and nothing will change while people keep on paying up without complaining about the rising costs and no affordable alternatives.
Redbike
says...
3:57pm Mon 14 Nov 11
I say build some Giant Hamster Wheels, connect them to a Turbine and put the unemployed on the Hamster Wheel for a few hours a day. Genearte Electricity, pay the unemployed the feed-in tarrif. It's green, sustainable and would also keep the blighters fit and do something to fight obesity levels.
frank
says...
4:13pm Mon 14 Nov 11
LawAbidingCitizen_MS
says...
4:39pm Mon 14 Nov 11
frank wrote:im sure it was in the news a few months ago, someone got seriously burnt trying to nick live cable, and lives to say ' don't nick cable, its dangerous'?! born idle or what
can't wait to hear that one of these thieves had tried to nick some live cable.
HelmshoreBoy
says...
5:57pm Mon 14 Nov 11
Pity it doesn't happen to the thieves!
happycyclist
says...
6:03pm Mon 14 Nov 11
Redbike wrote:ELEVEN people on bike generators took 5 minutes and 6 seconds to boil enough water just for a cup of tea.
"These big companies that make billions of pounds a year should be made to create more jobs out of their profits."
I say build some Giant Hamster Wheels, connect them to a Turbine and put the unemployed on the Hamster Wheel for a few hours a day. Genearte Electricity, pay the unemployed the feed-in tarrif. It's green, sustainable and would also keep the blighters fit and do something to fight obesity levels.
http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=oWWwRtkUI
yQ
Do keep up ;)
Graham Hartley
says...
6:25pm Mon 14 Nov 11
burner
says...
6:30pm Mon 14 Nov 11
Zoroastrian
says...
12:55pm Wed 16 Nov 11
Graham Hartley
says...
10:43pm Mon 21 Nov 11
No, voltages do not run. They can be expressed as energy changes when charge moves, or equivalently as line integrals (Faraday's Law). However one does it, one must acquire a technical education; and read plenty of Wittgenstein, thereby assuming eternal doubt.
maz;0)
says...
7:17pm Sat 26 Nov 11
happycyclist says...
1:50pm Mon 14 Nov 11
Remove all safety measures and put a big sign up outside saying "Free metal within"