Am I paranoid or are there certain people going around bolt cropping EV charge cables either just for the copper or to actually sabotage the EV agenda ?

 

We seem, to have had a whole spate of cut EV charge cables ie the DC public ones, putting many of the local chargers out of commission.

 

Is this just scroats who would otherwise be taking lead of church roofs or a target agenda driven mission like with the angle grinding of ULEZ cameras I am wondering.

 

I fear the latter.

 

The price of Copper has risen over 70% in the last 5 years, so stealing copper cables (even when live) is much more attractive.

 

See this page on the Network Rail website Cable Theft

Hardly paranoid if it is actually happening.

 

Where is it, any particular hubs or charger types, and are these the kind of place with poor lighting and no CCTV or security?

TESLA Supercharger hubs or A.N. Other? 

1 hour ago, PetrolDave said:

The price of Copper has risen over 70% in the last 5 years, so stealing copper cables (even when live) is much more attractive.

 

See this page on the Network Rail website Cable Theft

 

I have been looking at a cabinet for the cable of the one charger i have with a tethered cable. The other ie podpoint charger has no cable so I only put it in when charging.

 

Got a better security camera being delivered but I expect the come hoodied up.  I see Mr Martin has just died who was imprisoned for shooting an intruder. Shooting is over the top but perhaps a snare ?

 

@lol-lol  I thought you were posting about Public chargers and CCS or AC Tethered cables.

So it is Home chargers and 7 / 11 AC cables. 

12 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

@lol-lol  I thought you were posting about Public chargers and CCS or AC Tethered cables.

So it is Home chargers and 7 / 11 AC cables. 

 

Mainly seeing it reported on ZAP maps and other Apps for both DC and AC chargers but these thieves, vandals may well go cut tethered home cables as well as suspect they are stealing anything of this type.

 

For home charge points:

 

My parents installed their charge point in the back garden, next to the garden gate, where their car parks outside. In effect zero visibility from outside. My Dad is a bit paranoid.

 

You can also get a less conspicuous charge point. Such as:

https://andersen-ev.com/pages/andersen-a3

https://simpson-partners.com/

A pot plant in front they will be hardly noticeable.

 

Or just get untethered charge points.

It is happening, particularly in the Midlands I gather. A friend of mine who works in the industry showed me a video from a CCTV camera of it actually happening, Obviously the perpetrator was well hooded up so no prospect of identification.

Whether it is just for the metal or if they have a wider agenda is impossible to know until such a time as any of them are caught though FWIW my money is on it just being for the metal.

30 minutes ago, Dieselgate said:

Whether it is just for the metal or if they have a wider agenda is impossible to know until such a time as any of them are caught though FWIW my money is on it just being for the metal.

It's safer and easier to steal an unpowered cable from a driveway than a powered cable from the side of a railway track...

1 hour ago, PetrolDave said:

It's safer and easier to steal an unpowered cable from a driveway than a powered cable from the side of a railway track...

Yes of course. I think its mainly public chargers that are being raided though, not domestic chargers as the high powered DC chargers have a lot more copper in them. Stealing home chargers would be possible of course but less likely as most are likely to be in use during the night hours and obviously powered at that time!

58 minutes ago, Dieselgate said:

I think its mainly public chargers that are being raided though

In easily accessible places where there are likely to be few people around at night and where a quick getaway is possible...