Vaucluse woman charged with setting 5G mobile phone tower alight

A woman has been charged over setting fire to power pole serving as an Optus 5G mobile phone base in Vaucluse, causing $150,000 worth of damage.

A woman has been charged with causing $150,00 damage to a 5G mobile phone tower.

A woman has been charged over setting fire to power pole serving as an Optus 5G mobile phone tower in Vaucluse — or attempting to — on three occasions, causing $150,000 worth of damage.

The most recent incident was at 5.35am on April 3, when police allege the 50-year-old doused a cloth attached to the mobile phone pole with a substance, on the intersection of Derby St and Cambridge Ave.

She then allegedly attempted, without success, to set fire to the cloth.

Eastern suburbs detectives were notified and investigated before arresting the woman at a home on Derby St, Vaucluse.

She was taken to Waverley Police Stations and charged with damaging fire by fire/explosion $15,000, and two additional counts of damaging property by fire/explosion.

The telegraph pole which was set alight. Picture: Google maps

She was refused bail and is due to appear at Waverley Local Court on Thursday.

Police will allege the woman had previously set fire to the same mobile phone tower about 2.30am on October 18 last year, causing $150,000 of damage.

On that occasion Fire & Rescue NSW attended about 9.20pm that day and discovered the fire had already been extinguished.

They deemed that the site to be secure and not posing any danger to the public.

Police in the Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command were notified and began an investigation.

Then on February 15, about 8.30pm, members of the public allegedly saw another fire being lit at the same location and attempted to put it out.

Police said minimal damage was done to the tower that time.

Emergency services attended and a crime scene was established and forensically examined.