Copper wire thefts surge in downtown London with salvage yards told to be on alert
London Hydro says the underground electrical network is primarily the target
London police are urging downtown residents, businesses and property owners to be on alert amid an uptick in copper wire thefts in the core over the last several months.
At least 23 incidents of copper wire theft have been reported to police since November, with 21 reports occurring in the downtown, police said Monday in a joint statement with London Hydro and city hall.
"We've seen the number of incidents start to tick up in terms of copper theft from live installations," said Ysni Semsedini, the CEO of London Hydro.
He specified that thieves are primarily targeting the underground network, and on high voltage infrastructure, usually stealing in the overnight hours between two to five in the morning.
"For us, that poses a huge safety risk, both for the people who are stealing the copper and then also for our employees who are having to go in and try to fix the system that's been tampered with."
Londoners are being asked to keep an eye out for suspicious activity. Police say that might include people entering restricted areas at odd hours, unmarked vehicles parked near hydro installations and in other unusual spots, and people with wire cutters, crowbars, battery tools, and other equipment.
No arrests have been made in the incidents at the centre of Monday's joint statement, said Det. Insp. Sean Travis.
"We have had several reports of copper theft, whether it be wire or plumbing. It does involve all areas of the city," he said.
"Any site involved with active hydro is absolutely dangerous and a life-threatening situation to attempt to steal. So we definitely warn against anyone attempting that."
He said the city has been working with local salvage yards about reporting requirements for selling salvageable metals. "You're expected to ID yourself so that the items can be traced," Travis said.
Scrap yards play a role
Salvage yards have to verify a seller's identity using two pieces of valid, current government-issued ID, including one with a photograph. They're also required to report daily to police when products like copper are received.
Orest Katolyk, London's director of municipal compliance, said in a statement that recent inspections of salvage yards found no violations related to ID requirements.
"This month, a joint education blitz with London Hydro reinforced salvage yard requirements, including the daily reporting of copper sales to London police," he said.
Charlie Gelinas said his longtime recycling business, Specialized Recycling Inc., was among those visited by city officials. He said he's always required ID from people selling to him, and regularly turns away sellers who don't produce any.
"If a person's not willing to identify themselves and stand behind what they're bringing in, I'm not buying it, period," he said.
"There's been more times than I can count over the last 15 years we've been here where people have tried bringing stuff in they obviously don't match with, and we've turned them over to police. I'm thinking some extremely aggravating stuff, like graveyard urns."
Copper, he says, is a normal transaction, and some weeks he sees tens of thousands of pounds worth from demolition contractors, electricians, and homeowners. Gelinas expressed frustration that he was only learning of the uptick in copper wire thefts now.
"Why, if there was an uptick, London Hydro or (police) didn't say to people in the business 'this is going on, can you help us watch out for it?'" he said. "What would be helpful, if there's an issue going on, is to know about it when it's happening, then people will be extra alert to it."
Copper wire theft is a major issue and has been on the rise across the country, federal officials told the Senate's transport and communications committee in December.
Canadian telecom carriers in particular had more than 1,300 incidents of copper wire theft since January 2022, the committee heard.
Major companies like Bell Canada and Telus Corp. have been decommissioning some of their copper lines in recent years as they move more toward fibre-powered networks.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
with files from Alessio Donnini and The Canadian Press