Vandals cut down Surrey hydro poles to steal copper
One of the power lines had 25,000 volts of electricity running through it, says BC Hydro
Vandals cut down two hydro poles in Surrey last weekend, then stripped the transformers of their copper wire, according to BC Hydro.
Utility spokeswoman Mora Scott said the thieves used chainsaws to fell two poles, a highly dangerous activity that could have harmed the perpetrators, Hydro employees or members of the public.
The electrical equipment attached to one of the poles, which was located near a vacant building, was de-energized,
But in the second case, an attached power line had 25,000 volts of electricity running through it when it was brought down, causing a grass fire.
Hydro is asking the public to report any suspicious activity around power infrastructure.
A downed power line is dangerous and should be reported to 911.
The utility is working with the RCMP to investigate the two cases
Four years ago, the province moved to clamp down on metal theft by passing a law that requires those who deal with high-value metal such as copper to record details of every transaction and then provide them to police.