Ipswich to padlock copper wires after $775K black market thefts

Ipswich City Council is taking drastic measures to crack down on brazen thieves in fluorescent tradie shirts who are targeting sports clubs field lighting and plundering tonnes of council copper wire.

Padlocks will be put on some copper wire boxes in Ipswich after more than $775,000 of wire has been stolen since 2020. Picture: Ipswich City Council

A Southeast council which suffered losses of $584,000 from theft of copper piping last financial year, is the latest to install padlocks on cable pits.

Ipswich City Council has joined Moreton, Logan and Redland councils to call for state laws to tighten over the sale of copper wiring which retails for as much as $13/kg for 50mm pipe.

The state government is considering changing scrap metal dealer laws and increasing police powers and court fines to crackdown on the theft.

Ipswich council officers outlined the scale of the problem at this week’s general meeting claiming sports fields, large switchboard mains, and secluded parks and pathway lights were common targets.

An officer report said thefts and attempted thefts of copper from Ipswich had nearly tripled between 2020 and 2022 costing insurance companies more than $775,000 over five years.

The report said the vandalism was occurring during the day and at night with thieves taking huge risks cutting live cables and leaving pits open, putting the public in danger.

Ipswich City Council will replace some of its copper wiring with aluminium. Picture: Ipswich City Council

Some of Ipswich’s larger sporting clubs, including White Hill Football Club, Ipswich & West Moreton BMX Club, Raceview Soccer, Grange Road Soccer, Brothers Leagues and Ipswich Softball Association, have suffered with some evening games and training sessions cancelled or relocated due to damaged field lighting.

Mayor Teresa Harding said although insurance paid for the repairs, the public had to wait while claims were processed.

“It’s not just the cost but the safety issue to the community as well and the direct impact is that residents can’t train at these sporting fields or jog or walk at night,” Ms Harding said.

“I would like to see the legislative framework strengthened to take away the ability for the black market to flourish for copper and also strengthen the police and criminal powers as well.

“Queensland is the only state where thieves can cash in this metal without having to produce any identification.”

Ipswich City Council will lock some of its copper wire switchboxes. Picture: File photo

Along with its plan to install padlocks on cable pits and liaise closely with police, Ipswich has also cut the diameter of its copper piping to make it less saleable and will also replace some cables with aluminium.

Bluetooth tags and smart nodes for power supply monitoring on cables will also be considered to give the council real-time alerts when power lines are cut.

However, CCTV cameras and sand pits around the cables were ruled out as being inefficient and unlikely to deter thieves.

Originally published as Ipswich to padlock copper wires after $775K black market thefts