Shoes hanging from power lines all over Bridgewater in the Adelaide Hills

Someone calling themselves the ‘Shoe Bandit’ is hanging shoes from power lines across two Hills towns. One councillor has a theory.

Pairs of shoes have been thrown over power lines and phone lines across Bridgewater in the Adelaide Hills. Picture: Leigh Mudge

He’s as puzzled as anyone else is. Is it a “concerted campaign” – or someone just messing about?

Shoes, tied together by their laces, have been thrown over power and phone lines all around Bridgewater in the Adelaide Hills over the past week or so – and local councillor Leith Mudge is perplexed.

Some urban myths link shoes hanging over power lines to nearby supposed drug dealers – but in Bridgewater’s case, pairs are appearing all over the Hills town suddenly over the past week or two. Some appear to be the same kinds of cheap shoes.

A pair had been hanging over the Bridgewater on ramp for months until they were removed by SA Power Networks after Mr Mudge alerted council. But they’re back – and that was just the start.

“There were a couple over the Bridgewater on ramp, and there were a few comments on social media – SA Power Networks were pretty quick to take them down after I reported them,” Mr Mudge said.

Shoes have been tied together and thrown across power lines over various streets in Bridgewater and Aldgate, in the Adelaide Hills. Picture: Lynton Grace

Shoes have been tied together and thrown across power lines over various streets in Bridgewater and Aldgate, in the Adelaide Hills. Picture: Lynton Grace

Shoes have been tied together and thrown across power lines over various streets in Bridgewater and Aldgate, in the Adelaide Hills. Picture: Lynton Grace

Shoes have been tied together and thrown across power lines over various streets in Bridgewater and Aldgate, in the Adelaide Hills. Picture: Lynton Grace

Pairs of shoes have been thrown over power lines and phone lines across Bridgewater in the Adelaide Hills. Picture: Leigh Mudge

Pairs of shoes have been thrown over power lines and phone lines across Bridgewater in the Adelaide Hills. Picture: Leigh Mudge

But in the past week or two all these shoes have appeared all over the place

One pair even has ‘Shoe Bandit’ written, one word on the sole of each shoe.

“They look like new shoes – they don’t look like an old pair from an op shop, it looks like they bought some cheap shoes from Kmart and tied the shoelaces together and tossed them over the wire,” Mr Mudge said.

“There’s one pair on Strathalbyn Road that’s quite low, near the road, because the wires hang down.

“It’s weird – it’s some sort of concerted campaign perhaps over the weekend or last week. There’s lots of urban myths about what it means.”

Shoes hanging from power lines near Aldgate Primary School. Picture: Lynton Grace

One is now on the roadside. Picture: Lynton Grace

Pairs of shoes have been thrown over power lines and phone lines across Bridgewater in the Adelaide Hills. Picture: Leigh Mudge

Mr Mudge said one of those theories was drugs – a way of dealers spreading the word they had new drugs to sell. But there’s a different explanation as well.

“It can be a way to memorialise someone who’s died,” Mr Mudge said.

“You get their shoes and then sticking them over the powerlines is a way to commemorate their lives.

“But I don’t think that’s the explanation, I think it’s someone who wants some recognition.

“Some of the neighbours are a little concerned. It’s a weird one, someone has a reason to get some publicity.”

Adelaide Hills Council said it wasn’t responsible for removing the shoes, which fell to SA Power Networks.

An SAPN spokesman said they obviously did not encourage people to throw objects at powerlines.

“Of itself shoes on lines are not an issue from the point of view of reliability of supply. We don’t usually direct crews to remove them but they generally will do so if they are in an area and can do it safely.”