‘Direct threat’: BC Hydro asks for vigilance amid spike in copper cable thefts, including in Dawson Creek

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — BC Hydro is warning the public of a drastic increase involving the theft of copper from maintenance holes.

According to a statement issued by the power company on December 11th, it has logged 24 maintenance hole theft and mischief cases since January 2024, with BC Hydro pointing to several incidents, including one in Dawson Creek.

This comes after just five occurrences in the previous two years combined.

BC Hydro spokesperson Susie Rieder called the situation “a direct threat to public safety.”

“This isn’t just a property crime,” said Rieder in the release. “It’s a direct threat to our crews and to the thieves themselves.”

BC Hydro says thieves target maintenance holes housing copper cables used for carrying electric current through underground circuits and substations, essential for safe and reliable power.

They are also valuable on the scrap market, and the release warns cutting them is like tampering with live wires, where “one wrong move can be deadly.”

In the 21 cases highlighted by BC Hydro, suspects removed maintenance hole covers and cut cables at both ends.  

Thieves initially target a span of approximately 200 metres before dragging the cable out with a vehicle or a wench.

Other issues go deeper than just the theft of the cables, with BC Hydro citing open maintenance holes “creating fall hazards” for pedestrians and vehicles, and severed cables sparking fires and creating outages. 

It also estimates the damage caused by copper theft repairs costs at $1.2 million.

BC Hydro urges the public to report any suspicious activity near maintenance holes or electrical infrastructure immediately by calling 911 or BC Hydro security command centre at 1-877-311-8611.