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Power distributor acts to stop copper theft

Posted December 4, 2008 08:06:00

EnergyAustralia is spending $16 million beefing up security at its substations and depots around the Hunter and Sydney to curb copper theft.

The power distributor says last financial year there were 89 incidents of copper theft at its sites, and another 32 this financial year, costing millions of dollars.

Spokesman Alan Hammonet says the company has already spent $90 million upgrading security and it is starting to have an impact.

"We certainly believe we're beginning to win the battle in terms of criminal activity around our substations and depots," he said.

"We've succeeded in making 49 arrests our people in cooperation with the police, 17 in the last six months, three of them in the Hunter."

Tags: crime, copper, newcastle-2300