Copper thefts cut power to thousands of homes in Kingston SE region

SA Power Networks has offered up a $20,000 reward to bust thieves directly responsible for a coastal town’s power outage amid today’s wild weather.

More than 2000 South East homes were left without power due to a spate of statewide organised copper thefts as wild weather lashes South Australia.

SA Power Network earlier identified the cause of the Kingston SE region outage as vandalism but Limestone Coast Police Superintendent Phil Hoff said the culprits were not vandals but thieves Tuesday afternoon.

Copper cabling was stolen from the Smith Lane substation sometime after May 25, in a pattern Superintendent Hoff said had appeared across the state.

Due to vandalism of our equipment, more than 2000 customers are without power in the Kingston SE region. The repairs require specialist crews from Adelaide to be deployed. We are doing our best to get your power back as quick as possible. pic.twitter.com/8N12Q7S8mB

— SA Power Networks (@SAPowerNetworks) June 8, 2021

The thefts were only discovered Tuesday morning with SA Power Network working to resolve the issue with specialist crews deployed from Adelaide.

“The theft of precious metals such as copper, especially at a time when there’s a high copper price, unfortunately becomes prevalent,” Superintendent Hoff said.

“It would seem that there’s quite an organised approach to this as there’s been a number of SA Power Network sites that have been impacted.

“It’s incredibly dangerous for anyone to go into a substation and start messing around with cables that could be used to carry incredibly high loads of electricity.

“Apart from the stupidity of these people, the inconvenience that they’re now caused to the community is quite significant.”

SA Power Networks has doubled its standard reward – to $20,000 – for information leading to a conviction of those responsible for copper theft from its electricity infrastructure.

Kingston is one of 14 towns, including Swan Reach, Woodside, Meningie, Jervois, Caloote and Meningie to be hit by thieves targeting copper in the past month.

SA Power Networks spokesman Paul Roberts said with those caught would face up to two year’s jail or a $10,000 fine.

“Someone must know something, whether it is information about who is breaking into the substations or even who is buying the stolen copper,” he said.

“These people are risking their lives and seriously compromising the electricity network and the safety of our employees and the community.

“Just stepping into a substation site is dangerous, as you do not have to touch equipment to be electrocuted.

“They not only are risking their lives, but their actions endanger the public and could lead to serious disruption of electricity supply. Repairs are also costly.”

SA Power Network is working with SAPOL and encouraged anyone with information on copper theft to contact police by calling CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.

Power was restored at around 6pm to Wyomi, Kingston SE, Pinks Beach, Taratap, Wangolina, Mount Benson, Cape Jaffa, Blackford, West Range, Sandy Grove, Tilley Swamp, Rosetown, Coorong and Reedy Creek.

Kingston District Council provided tips for residents trying to keep warm during the lengthy power outage on a day of “debilitating polar blast”.

It is not the first report of vandalism in the area in recent days with local icon Murray the South East Skeleton destroyed Saturday evening.