NSW Police investigate more missing copper after chainsaws used on Hunter Valley Ausgrid power poles

Jun 15, 2023

New South Wales' biggest electricity distributor says thieves are "taking chainsaws and hacksaws" to its poles to steal copper wiring, putting their lives at risk.

Ausgrid, which owns poles and wires that connect several million properties across the state, has alleged thieves have stolen "kilometres of copper".

"We're seeing thieves actually cut down our power poles while the wires are still attached," Ausgrid spokesperson Emma Forbes said.

"[They're] letting the pole fall, snapping and taking the wire from the pole itself."

Copper wire theft is not new in Australia, with trends emerging in Queensland earlier this year, and Victoria late last year, due to its high re-sale scrap value.

NSW Police have re-appealed for public help to figure out who is responsible for a spate of copper thefts in the state's Hunter Valley.

"Detectives are also investigating reports of similar thefts believed to have occurred at Morisset and Awaba," NSW Police said in a statement.

Ms Forbes said the problem was far more broad across Ausgrid's network in the state.

"We've actually had 45 individual copper theft incidences occur across the network in the last 18 months," she said.

"35 of them were concentrated in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, and Central Coast area."

Police and the power company said the thefts were incredibly dangerous, and thieves had gone to "aggressive lengths" to steal.

"There are thousands of volts of live electricity above their heads, and at the end of the day it is absolutely not worth your life," Ms Forbes said.

"Our staff have extensive training to work around the live network, and it's a stupid risk to take for little reward.

"There's no second chances with electricity."

NSW Police said anyone with information about copper theft should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.