‘Communities across the UK are paying the price for this criminal behaviour': Openreach teams up with metal recycling giant to tackle UK's £4bn a decade cable theft problem

Openreach network.

• Cable theft costs the UK £500 million yearly, and it continues to grow
• Over 100,000 customers have been impacted and 1.2 million hours lost since April 2024
• Openreach partners with EMR and Crimestoppers, deploys DNA tracers and grid alarms

According to new information from Openreach, metal theft has cost the UK economy an estimated £4.3 billion since 2013, and it’s now estimated to sit at £500 million per year as the problem continues to escalate.