Slacks Creek blackout after would-be copper thief takes axe to Energex power pole

Power has been restored to homes and businesses south of Brisbane after a would-be copper thief used an axe to crack open an Energex cable.

Gunungai Drive, Slacks Creek where a would-be copper thief used an axe to crack open Energex cables.

A would-be copper cable thief is lucky to be alive after chopping through an 11,000-volt Energex cable with an axe and taking out power to over 800 homes in Slacks Creek on Wednesday.

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The incident occurred in Gunungai Drive, just after 9am, when the culprit took numerous swings at a high-voltage power cable until their axe pierced through its heavy insulation, which would have created a loud explosion and a fireball.

Energex area manager for Brisbane South Kevin Lavender said the person fled the scene empty-handed but it was likely they suffered serious injuries as a result of their actions, which could have been deadly.

A close up of the hacked cable.

“When it comes to stealing copper, the most dangerous place to take it from is our power network and this person may have received significant burns from the fire flash created when their axe hit the cable’s core,” he said.

“If they escaped with just burns, they should consider themselves lucky because the high voltage they struck has the potential to remove limbs and/or kill instantly.

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“It beggars belief anyone would try such a brazen and dangerous act when the chances of survival are usually very slim, and in broad daylight too.”

Energex recently installed live CCTV cameras on their power network, depots and worksites to prevent theft and they’ve already helped police in identifying and charging offenders.

People can report suspected acts of theft to Energex to police on 131 444.