Two Men Charged Over Another Alleged Copper Theft

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Two men have been charged over another attempted copper theft in the region this week.

Police were called to a property on Wangi Road at Myuna Bay at about 5:00pm on Wednesday the 2nd of August 2023, following reports copper cables were being stolen.

It's there they spotted two men, aged 38 and 49, allegedly removing the copper cables and loading them into a vehicle.

The pair was arrested at the scene and taken to Toronto Police station.

They've been granted bail to appear before Toronto Local Court on the 29th of August. 

Police Investigate A String Of Hunter Copper Thefts

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Police are appealing for information in relation to several alleged copper-theft incidents in the Hunter during June and July. 

A number of incidents have been reported over the last two months, including on Monday the 31st of July 2023, when police say copper cables were stolen from a site on Thomas Mitchell Drive at Muswellbrook.

The following other incidents are also being investigated by police:

• On Friday the 9th of June 2023, copper earth tails were stolen from more than 50 power poles along the Golden Highway near Merriwa.
• Between Wednesday the 5th of July and Thursday the 20th of July 2023, copper cables were stolen from a site near Wybong Road at Muswellbrook.
• On Friday the 7th of July 2023, copper cables were stolen from a site near George Booth Drive at Cameron Park.
• On Saturday the 8th of July 2023, electrical wires were stolen near Regents Drive, New Lambton.
• On Wednesday the 19th of July 2023, an attempted theft occurred on electrical wires at Tomalpin, near Cessnock.

It's also believed similar thefts have occurred at Morisset and Awaba. 

Officers are currently investigating the thefts and are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. 

The incidents have also prompted Ausgrid’s Executive General Manager of Field Operations, Sam Sofi to issue a safety warning. 

He says people are putting their lives at risk by interfering with live electrical assets.

 

BREAKING! Two Men Allegedly Caught in The Act Of Stealing Copper Wire At Wallsend

 BY IAN CROUCH

Two men have allegedly been caught red-handed stealing copper wire from the Ausgrid compound at Wallsend.

Police were called to reports two men were trespassing at the Newcastle Road facility at about 1.30am on Monday.

General Duties police and the Dog Unit arrived a short time later and arrested the pair, allegedly in the process of cutting the wire.

The men, aged 51 and 52, have been taken to Newcastle Police Station where they are assisting with inquiries. 

A Police Dog helped arrest two men allegedly helping themselves to copper wire at Wallsend

Attempted Copper Theft at Marks Point

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

There has been another dangerous case of attempted copper wire theft in Lake Macquarie over the long weekend.

Ausgrid says a metal security gate at Marks Point near the Pacific Highway was cut through with a saw, before the base of a power pole was dug away as the would-be thief tried to remove live wires from the earth beneath the structure.

The incident resulted in power loss to 1200 nearby homes and sparked a small fire.

It's not the first incident of its kind this year - in March thieves risked their lives stealing the valuable product from a powerline at Toronto.

500 metres of copper wire was then taken from Masonite Road, Tomago and Awaba Road Toronto West in late August.

Ausgrid is renewing its warning that the practice is life-threatening and criminal, while police have launched investigations.