Duke Energy – Copper Theft and Substation Safety – Cresatech

Copper theft From Duke Energy Substation In Rockingham Co

Mark Cowan — Fri, 09 Mar 2018 12:49:51 +0000

Copper theft From Duke Energy Substation In Rockingham Co.

by Mark Cowan

Copper theft From Duke Energy Substation In Rockingham Co.

Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the theft of a Copper Bus Bar an Bushing from a Duke Energy Sub-Station located on 505 North Oakland Ave in Eden.

Investigators believe the theft happened between Friday, September 15 at 1 p.m. and Monday, October, 9 at 1 p.m. (2017) The value of the damage to the sub-station is $60,000

Tags: copper theft, Duke Energy, Rockingham, substation copper theft

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Copper Theft at Duke Energy Substations in Wayne County March 2017

Mark Cowan — Sat, 26 Aug 2017 02:00:04 +0000

Copper theft at Duke Energy substations in Wayne County

by Mark Cowan

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office is investigating copper theft from two Duke Energy power substations on Hare Road and Thoroughfare Road, Wayne County putting substation safety at risk.

These thefts happened some time in the past month, according to sheriff’s office reports. The employees who reported the incidents told deputies nobody had been on the power substation sites within the last month.

In the first incident at 523 Hare Road, the Duke Energy employee who reported the theft said around 300 feet of copper wire was taken. That much copper is valued at around $1,000, the report said.

The employee told deputies copper wire thefts have been happening many times per week in other power substation locations, including in Raleigh, the report said.

According to the report, the substation on Hare Road sustained no major damage.

But that was not the case in the second copper wire theft, reported at 3292 Thoroughfare Road.

That substation sustained approximately $4,000 to $5,000 worth of damage because of the copper wire theft, the report said.

The Duke Energy employee who reported the theft said about 100 feet of copper wire was taken from the Thoroughfare Road substation, the report said.

There are no suspects in either incident, the reports said.

Anyone with information about this crime, or any other crime in Wayne County is asked to call or text Crime Stoppers at 919-735-2255, or submit information at tipsubmit.com. Callers can remain anonymous and information leading to a felony arrest will be eligible for a cash reward.

March 9, 2017

Source: News-Argus Staff

Tags: copper theft, Duke Energy, substation, Substation Safety, substation theft

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Duke Energy Copper Theft Causes Power Outage for 22,000 Customers

Mark Cowan — Tue, 09 May 2017 10:54:09 +0000

Duke Energy Power Outage

by Mark Cowan

Copper theft at a local Duke Energy Progress substation was the culprit in Tuesday morning’s outage that left more than 22,000 New Hanover County customers without power and effecting substation safety.

Meghan Musgrave, a spokeswoman for Duke Energy Progress, said a copper theft was reported at the Bernard Creek substation just after midnight Tuesday.

Crews responded to the substation, which was beginning to fail, Musgrave said.

Repair work to the failing substation caused more than 22,000 outages throughout Wilmington. Crews had power restored in about two hours.

The Wilmington Police Department is investigating the theft. Musgrave would not say how much copper was stolen from the substation, citing the ongoing investigation.

“Copper theft is against the law, and reducing copper theft is a priority,” Musgrave said. “Copper theft in substations is dangerous and a major safety concern at Duke Energy. When copper is removed from equipment by thieves, it can create an unsafe situation or substation condition, and put our personnel and the public at risk.

Copper theft can cause Duke Energy personnel, the public and thieves to be hurt or killed.”

By Port City Daily staff on October 28, 2014

Tags: copper theft, Duke Energy, Substation Safety

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Duke Energy – Copper theft – $3M damages – 5 Charged – April 2015

Mark Cowan — Tue, 09 May 2017 10:46:13 +0000

Duke Energy Copper Theft

by Mark Cowan

April 1st 2015 LINCOLNTON, N.C. — Lincolnton police with the assistance of multiple agencies charged five people in connection to a string of copper theft targeting Duke Energy substations.

Arrested and charged with felony first-degree trespassing: Carl Matthew Wright (Gastonia), David Alexander Wright (Gastonia), Austin James Spurling (Lincolnton), Don Tyler Polk, and Shelley Carol Pettigrew (Clover).

A tip call to police during the theft in December at the substation on Montz Avenue in Lincolnton prompted the initial investigation.

Detective Robert Hayes says the group looked for abandoned substations to target, and may be linked to five similar thefts in three other counties including Gaston, Catawba, and York County.

“They scout these places out, go after hours or even in the middle of the day,” said Hayes.

The investigation also led to the search warrant execution at a local Gastonia scrap yard. Investigators believe these individuals are part of a larger copper theft ring.

“I believe this goes back to years prior. I believe one of the individuals learned from his father, I think he taught him the trade,” said Hayes.

Police say the crimes may also be linked to a series of copper thefts in South Carolina. One incident in early March caused thousands of people to be without power for three hours. Three people were arrested in that case.

Authorities ask the public to be vigilant and report suspicious noise or activities that occur near or around the substations. Copper theft effects substation safety and is a risk to the public. Hayes estimates the thefts linked to the five arrested recently, resulted in damages up to $3 million dollars.

“A lot of them involve these transformers that have thousands of gallons of oil inside. They will leak these transformers which the EPA then gets involved because there are damages to the soil, and the expenses to clean it up,” he said.

Some of the individuals were arrested earlier in the year, but police waited for the conclusion of the three month long investigation to announce the arrest, saying the cases covers several jurisdictions and came full circle this week.

Content by WCNC

Tags: copper theft, Duke Energy, South Carolina, substation, Substation Safety

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Duke Energy – Copper Theft and Substation Safety – Cresatech

Copper theft From Duke Energy Substation In Rockingham Co

Copper theft From Duke Energy Substation In Rockingham Co.

Copper theft From Duke Energy Substation In Rockingham Co.

Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the theft of a Copper Bus Bar an Bushing from a Duke Energy Sub-Station located on 505 North Oakland Ave in Eden.

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Copper Theft at Duke Energy Substations in Wayne County March 2017

Copper theft at Duke Energy substations in Wayne County

The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office is investigating copper theft from two Duke Energy power substations on Hare Road and Thoroughfare Road, Wayne County putting substation safety at risk.

These thefts happened some time in the past month, according to sheriff’s office reports. The employees who reported the incidents told deputies nobody had been on the power substation sites within the last month.

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Duke Energy Copper Theft Causes Power Outage for 22,000 Customers

Duke Energy Power Outage

Copper theft at a local Duke Energy Progress substation was the culprit in Tuesday morning’s outage that left more than 22,000 New Hanover County customers without power and effecting substation safety.

Meghan Musgrave, a spokeswoman for Duke Energy Progress, said a copper theft was reported at the Bernard Creek substation just after midnight Tuesday.

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Duke Energy – Copper theft – $3M damages – 5 Charged – April 2015

Duke Energy Copper Theft

April 1st 2015 LINCOLNTON, N.C. — Lincolnton police with the assistance of multiple agencies charged five people in connection to a string of copper theft targeting Duke Energy substations.

Arrested and charged with felony first-degree trespassing: Carl Matthew Wright (Gastonia), David Alexander Wright (Gastonia), Austin James Spurling (Lincolnton), Don Tyler Polk, and Shelley Carol Pettigrew (Clover).

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