The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are currently investigating four recent cases of copper wire theft in Nova Scotia. According to a police statement released on Friday, the incidents involved two lines being cut in Colchester County, a power line being cut and removed from the ground in Cumberland County, and cables stolen from an empty building in Hants County. These thefts occurred between July 28 and August 4.
Sergeant Stuart Beselt of Cumberland County District RCMP stated that copper wire theft has been an ongoing issue in Nova Scotia. He highlighted that the problem persists and poses a significant concern for authorities. The trend of copper theft has been increasing nationwide, with Bell revealing a 78% surge in stolen copper wires compared to the previous year, primarily concentrated in Ontario and New Brunswick.
These recent thefts come after three separate incidents of copper theft at railway crossings in Pictou County back in June. Beselt explained that rural areas, characterized by aging infrastructure and limited surveillance, are attractive to potential thieves due to the secluded nature of transmission lines. He emphasized that thieves often target these areas to cut and sell the stolen copper to scrap dealers.
The RCMP emphasized that copper theft has a direct impact on telecommunications services, with the theft in Colchester County leading to phone and internet service disruptions. Beselt expressed concerns about the safety implications of these outages, particularly for the elderly population in rural regions who may require emergency assistance.
Highlighting the dangers associated with copper theft, Beselt mentioned a recent incident of electrocution in Cumberland County, resulting in critical injuries to the individual involved. As of now, no arrests have been made in connection to the theft cases.
