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Couple with two young children forced to flee their burning home after thieves cut power cables causing a massive power surge.

Four homes went up in flames and hundreds were left without power in sub-zero temperatures this morning after thieves cut through a cable at an electricity substation to steal copper worth just £40.

One family, with two young children, was forced to flee their home in Greenock, Inverclyde, at 4am.

They escaped the house in Devon Road after thick smoke filled the property. The 28-year-old father was treated for smoke inhalation.

Repairs: One family was left homeless just a few weeks before Christmas

 

Devastated: Frank McGarrity, landlord of one of the properties, stands in the house which was engulfed in flames after the power surge Fires: As a result of the cable theft, small fires broke out in three homes around the area

Fires: As a result of the cable theft, small fires broke out in three homes around the area. Frank McGarrity, (left) landlord of one of the properties, stands in the house which was engulfed in flames after the power surge

The fires were sparked by a power surge from the cutting of cables in a substation in Burns Square in the town.

A spokesman for the company said the thieves risked their lives by stealing the cable which had caused an ‘incredible’ problem for local people.

The criminals took three metres of copper wire, said to be worth about £40.

By cutting the neutral wire, they caused a power surge back that caused domestic fuse boxes to blow, starting the fires.

The spokesman said: ‘There are currently 280 homes offline and engineers are working to restore it and visit all homes affected. We’re also working with the council to set up somewhere residents can go in the meantime to get something hot to eat or drink as it’s a cold day.

Fled: A family was forced to flee their smoke-filled home in the early hours after the power surge caused several fires

Fled: A family was forced to flee their smoke-filled home in the early hours after the power surge caused several fires

Intense: The heat from the fire melted the plastic on children's toys

Intense: The heat from the fire melted the plastic on children’s toys

‘The cable that was stolen was only three metres and that’s not worth more than a double-figure sum.

‘They were were lucky because there’s an 11,000-volt cable in the substation and if they had tried to cut that they would’ve been electrocuted.

‘It’s caused an incredible amount of trouble and they’re lucky to be alive.’

Police said the family forced to flee their house due to a fire had faced a ‘terrifying’ ordeal.

Inspector Jennifer Shanks said: ‘This young family have been extremely lucky that they managed to escape so quickly from their house with two very young children, however, with five weeks to go before Christmas, their house has been extensively damaged after a surge at their electricity box.

‘This terrifying fire was caused by someone stealing around £40 worth of copper piping from the nearby Burns Square substation.

Dangerous: The thieves stole metres of wire which caused fires and left hundreds of homes without power

Dangerous: The thieves stole metres of wire which caused fires and left hundreds of homes without power

Stolen: Three metres of solid copper wire, worth about £40, was stolen from the substation

Stolen: Three metres of solid copper wire, worth about £40, was stolen from the substation

‘Additionally many other families in the local area experienced fires in their homes and damage to their property.

‘Around 300 houses in the Larkfield area have been left without electricity on one of the coldest mornings of the year, some of these householders will undoubtedly have very young, or old people who are vulnerable to the cold.

‘We have said to the public many times before that the theft of metal is extremely dangerous and no more so than this morning. Around £40 worth of metal being stolen has almost cost a family their lives and left many people without power.

Damage: The electric substation in Greenock was broken into and caused several fires

Damage: The electric substation in Greenock was broken into and caused several fires

‘I would like to reassure the public that we are carrying out extensive inquiries to trace those responsible for this theft and I would ask anyone who has any information or who was in the Burns Square area of Greenock in the early hours of this morning to get in touch.’

Scottish Power said it was working to restore electricity to the area but engineers needed to visit every home affected to make sure there is no damage, or further problems could be caused when the power is turned back on – which it hoped would happen by late afternoon or early evening.

Scottish Power launched a campaign last month offering up to £10,000 for information leading to the conviction of thieves who steal metal from substations and asked anyone with information on the theft in Greenock to contact them or the police.

Anyone with information can contact police on 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 08000 555 111. Scottish Power can be contacted on its 24-hour response line 08452 727 999.

Original Content by The Daily Mail

ScottishPower report success with Cresatech earth monitor

ScottishPower publish substation earth monitoring report following the successful project with Cresatech CuTS® ZM.

The report from ScottishPower Energy Networks, published on 18th July 2016 provides confirmation that the Cresatech CuTS® unit and service is a viable solution for the detection and mitigation of safety impact and service continuity issues that result from metal infrastructure theft from electrical networks.” It “highlighted that it is possible to monitor substation assets through the use of an innovative monitoring system.”

The pervasive security, safety and service continuity issues generated by metal theft have driven power network operator’s requirements for a cost effective method of detecting such theft activity as it happens.

Cresatech CuTS® ZM sends a real time alert as the theft events occur so safety and service risks can be mitigated in the most suitable and effective manner.

“Liaising with the local districts, utilising local knowledge and reviewing past history of vandalism and theft, a number of substation locations were chosen for the trial. The locations were reviewed to ensure their suitability and an installation plan was developed with regards to available internal resources. This approach enabled the monitors to be evaluated against conventional alternative preventative measures and also increased the chance that they would be triggered for an actual theft occurrence.”

Key conclusions quoted directly from the report;

“During the trial period there was not a copper theft incident at any of the chosen 25 sites. However, a number of preplanned and random tests were carried out to simulate the removal or tampering of earthed infrastructure. These tests proved the Cresatech CuTS® system effectively detected removal or tampering of the earthed infrastructure.”

The trial successfully proved;

  • The successful and reliable detection of copper theft and tampering at key substation locations either through test simulations or actual events.
  • Low incidences of mal-operation and spurious alarms”

It was concluded that “The (Cresatech CuTS®) monitors adequately detected when earthing was removed or tampered with during testing”

“Remote monitoring technologies in general are likely to support multiple business cases, potentially across multiple stakeholders.  In the case of this project in addition to security, it has become clear that other benefits include;

  • Safety (for employees and public on-site and further downstream in the network); and
  • Operational efficiency (for example, asset protection, planned maintenance etc.) “

 

To read the full report on IFI 1209 and see the supporting documents including a Cost Benefit Analysis and video, please go to ScottishPower & Cresatech Report

Or send us your details on our contact page. 

To receive all 4 report documents please contact us and they will be sent direct to your mailbox.

Scottish Power sets aside £20,000 for rewards to stop metal thefts

One of Scotland’s largest power firms has set aside £20,000 to offer rewards for information which lead to metal thieves being caught.

Scottish Power said about 20 incidents had been reported across central Scotland in just over two weeks.

These include thefts at Milngavie, Dalry, Shotts, Falkirk, Kilbarchan, Larkhall and Slamannan.

In one incident, 1,500 homes suffered a blackout after a truck hit a power line brought down over a road.

Guy Jefferson, network operations director at Scottish Power Energy Networks, said: “Metal theft is one of the biggest threats to the safety of the electricity network, and the impact of these crimes can be devastating.

“In recent years we have witnessed house fires and damaged electrical appliances in homes.”

‘Horrific burns’

He added: “One man died recently attempting to steal copper from an electricity pole in Lanarkshire, and others have suffered horrific burns, loss of limbs and scarring.”

Scottish Power said there had been more than 850 metal thefts on its network since January 2011.

One incident last year from a substation in Greenock resulted in two serious house fires and more than 200 properties suffering a blackout.

In 2011, a botched cable theft in Glasgow saw a 30-minute power outage for 50,000 properties in the city’s south side.

Mr Jefferson added: “We continue to increase our own security measures, and work closely with the police and other industries affected by this crime.

“I’d urge anyone who spots suspicious behaviour near our power lines to report what they have seen to the police.”

Source BBC

Electricity substation metal theft reward offered

A REWARD of as much as £10,000 is being offered to anyone who can provide information to help convict thieves who steal metal from electricity substations.

A new Copped It advertising campaign by ScottishPower Energy Networks highlights the potentially fatal consequences of thefts in and around substations and power lines. A maximum reward of £10,000 will be given to any member of the public whose information leads to the conviction of someone stealing metal from ScottishPower.

The campaign has been launched in response to a surge in thefts and attempted thefts of metal, with 1,435 such incidents recorded at the company’s substations since January 2011, ScottishPower said. According to the firm, this has resulted in 140,000 homes put at increased risk of damage, 50,000 homes in Glasgow losing power for 30 minutes in November 2011 and the death of a 43-year-old man in July this year after an attempted theft from a substation in Lanarkshire. Around 11,000 hours have been spent on repairs and reinforcements, ScottishPower said.

ScottishPower Energy Networks is the licensed electricity distributor for central and southern Scotland and for Merseyside, Cheshire, North Wales and North Shropshire, with 30,000 substations, 40,000km overhead lines and 70,000km underground cables. Frank Mitchell, chief executive of ScottishPower Energy Networks, said: “The worrying reality of this kind of criminal behaviour is the serious impact it can have on local communities.

“As well as continuing to increase our own security and working closely with the police, we want to raise awareness of the threats posed by these kinds of thefts and we want to encourage people in communities to report any suspicious behaviour they see beside our power lines and substations. “We are happy to pay rewards for information that leads to criminal convictions, and we want to work closely with communities to help catch the criminals responsible for this dangerous activity.” Any suspicious activity can be reported to ScottishPower via its 24-hour response line on 08452 727 999.

Source: The Scotsman

ScottishPower Offers Record £20k Reward For Information On Power Line Thefts

Dangerous criminals targeting overhead power lines across Scotland have been urged to stop before their actions lead to someone being killed.

Following a spate of reckless thefts, ScottishPower has warned that it is only a matter of time before a life is lost, and has set aside a record £20,000 to provide individual rewards to those who offer information, which directly leads to the successful conviction for theft of those involved in the offence. Around 20 similar incidents have been reported across Central Scotland in just over two weeks, with thieves targeting power lines in farms and rural locations. The criminals are engaging in highly dangerous behaviour that could lead to death by cutting down live power lines that can carry up to 11,000 volts of electricity, and their actions could cause fires in nearby properties, or even cause traffic accidents if brought down near roads.

Recent incidents have been recorded in South and Central Scotland, including Milngavie, Dalry, Shotts, Falkirk, Kilbarchan, Larkhall and Slamannan. In one incident a power line was brought down across a road, and was struck by a truck, causing a temporary power cut for 1,500 homes. A theft in 2013 from a substation in Greenock last year resulted in two serious house fires and more than 200 properties experiencing an extended power outage, whilst engineers checked each individual property for safety. In 2011, a botched cable theft in Glasgow saw a 30 minute power outage for 50,000 properties in the Southside.

Guy Jefferson, Network Operations Director at SP Energy Networks, said: “These recent thefts have been deeply concerning, and we are closely working with Police Scotland to catch those responsible. I’d urge anyone who spots suspicious behaviour near our power lines to report what they have seen to the Police. The thefts can also cause power interruptions, which are a major inconvenience. In the event of any power supply problems, the sooner they are reported to our hotline, the quicker we can respond. “Metal theft is one of the biggest threats to the safety of the electricity network, and the impact of these crimes can be devastating.

In recent years we have witnessed house fires and damaged electrical appliances in homes. One man died recently attempting to steal copper from an electricity pole in Lanarkshire, and others have suffered horrific burns, loss of limbs and scarring. Unfortunately it seems like the thieves don’t care about the risk to their own lives, and they certainly show no regard for the safety of neighbouring properties. “We continue to increase our own security measures, and work closely with the Police and other industries affected by this crime. Our key objective is to operate a safe and reliable electricity network, and we hope that planned changes to legislation will help to stop these criminals who don’t care about the damage they inflict on communities.”

The stolen metal typically ends up being passed through dishonest scrap merchants, on the way to being exported around the world. New proposed legislation will prevent scrap metal dealers paying cash for materials, which will block the criminal gangs from selling their stolen metal. At the beginning of the month (6th August) ScottishPower Energy Networks met with Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Kenny MacAskill MSP, to discuss the tougher sanctions against metal theft that are proposed as part of new legislation. The new legislation will aid the efforts of Police Scotland and other agencies, who have been targeting the criminal gangs and the small band of dishonest scrap dealers for many years with a variety of specialist operations and investigations.

Speaking at the start of the month, Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Kenny MacAskill MSP, said: “Metal theft is simply not a victimless crime. As recent incidents have shown, the actions of a selfish minority create unnecessary cost, danger and disruption for the rest of the community. “That is why the Scottish Government is bringing in tough new legislation to address metal theft, ensuring that all dealers are licensed and eliminating cash payments. We are also introducing better record keeping and identity checks to tackle this widespread problem. “By reducing the outlets for stolen metal and the lure of ready cash we believe we can remove the incentive to steal.

“With tough legislation and enforcement, and continued work with police, companies like ScottishPower and the majority of reputable metal dealers, we believe we can end this crime.”

ScottishPower is encouraging anyone who can provide information on the recent spate of thefts to either contact the Police, or to call the company’s 24 hour hotline on 0800 092 9290. The company is willing to set aside a record £20,000 to provide individual rewards to those who offer information, which directly leads to the successful conviction for theft of those involved in the offence.

Metal theft statistics:

• More than 850 thefts since January 2011

• Recent incidents have been recorded across Central and Southern Scotland including Milngavie, Dalry, Falkirk, Shotts, Kilbarchan, Larkhall, Crossford and Slamannan

• Over 70,000 homes exposed to increased risks of faults or potential damage

• Over 6,000 man-hours spent on repairs and reinforcements

• 50,000 homes in Glasgow lost power supplies for 30 minutes in November 2011 after an attempted theft

• 2 serious house fires in Greenock in November 2013 after a theft from a substation. More than 200 homes experienced an extended power outage until safety checks could be completed

• 50 homes in Kilbarchan, Renfrewshire, experienced damaged appliances after a theft from a substation in May 2013

• More than 20 substations were targeted in the Saltcoats area in one weekend alone in June 2013

• A spate of incidents in Dumfries and Galloway in January 2013 saw live overhead power lines being cut down by hacksaws

• A fatality of a 43 year old man occurred in July 2013 following an attempted theft from a pole mounted substation in Lanarkshire.

Source: ScottishPower

Metal theft leaves SP Energy Networks with £18m bill

Metal theft from electricity substations across Scotland in the last four years has cost SP Energy Networks £18 million in repairs and extra security.

The company has experienced 1212 raids on its substations – roughly one a day – with each one resulting in a loss of supply and a major safety risk to both the public and the perpetrator. The crimes have resulted in three fatalities, including one man who made direct contact with an 11Kv pole mounted transformer, and more than 20 arrests.

The Scottish Government is set to tackle the problem of metal theft by introducing legislation that prohibits scrap metal dealers from accepting cash payments and forcing them to identify sellers in September. SP Energy Networks district manager Eddie Mulholland said: “It beggars belief that criminals continue to dice with death for a few pounds worth of scrap metal. “What is more concerning is their complete disregard for the power cuts they have caused, and the house fires they have started.”

Source: Utility Week

Reckless theft caused blast at electric substation

A RECKLESS theft at a Widnes electricity substation caused an explosion and major fire, putting homes and lives at risk.

More than 100 homes and businesses were left without power for nine hours on Moorfield Road in Halton View. ScottishPower has condemned the criminals and the police are appealing for witnesses. The power company is working closely with officers to catch those responsible. A reward of up to £10,000 will be paid to anyone who provides information that leads to a conviction. It is the latest in a spate of dangerous substation thefts across Merseyside and the north west. There have been 20 separate incidents reported across the region since April. Stephen Stewart, director of SP Energy Networks, said:

“The criminals involved in these kind of thefts are risking the safety and wellbeing of local residents. “Their irresponsible action shows a total disregard for members of the public. “They are all too aware that tampering with electrical equipment can result in power cuts and could even cause fires in nearby homes but they couldn’t care less about the harm and disruption they cause.”

One woman told her neighbours she saw a man running away from the substation seconds before the explosion.

The fire started at around 11am on Thursday. Staff working at nearby Joanne Claire hairdressers said they heard the blast. Left with no power, they had no alternative but to close the salon. They say they not only lost business on the day but also future appointments as their telephone line was also cut off. Elderly residents relied on their neighbours with gas cookers to make hot drinks and meals. Power was eventually restored at 8pm.

Anyone with information can call Cheshire Police on 101 quoting incident number 389 of May 5. Alternatively, people can call the power company SP Energy Networks’ 24-hour hotline on 0800 001 5400 from a landline or 0330 1010 400 from a mobile.

Source: The Argus