Queensland's primary electricity provider fears a dramatic rise in copper wire thefts from its statewide network could result in someone being "hurt, or worse".
Attempted and actual copper thefts from Ergon Energy and Energex have increased from 119 in 2020 to more than 330 in 2022.
Copper is one of the highest value scrap metals in the country, selling for about $7 per kilogram at scrap metal yards.
Ergon Energy's North Queensland area manager Wayne Alderman said thieves were getting more creative, with one copper criminal attempting to remove wiring from an electrical pole with an axe.
"We've seen a thief actually connect his car up to an 11,000-volt underground cable that was already connected up a pole," he said.
"He's torn this live cable from a pole, creating a flash over a large outage, and started grass fires."
Construction sites an easy target
According to police data over the last two years, copper thefts have increased by 58 per cent on the Sunshine Coast, 31 per cent in Moreton Bay and 19 per cent in Brisbane.
The Brisbane area recorded the highest number in the state during 2022, with a total of 186 thefts, and a fifth of those on construction sites.
Construction sites have been targeted in Far North Queensland as well, resulting in a five-fold increase in copper thefts over the past two years.
James Mort is the director of Cairns construction company, Mihaven, and said one of his sites was targeted twice in a fortnight.
"There's a new way of stealing on sites … they come in and pull the copper out of the walls, or the roughing copper that is done," he said.
"As soon as the copper goes in [the walls of a new build] the next morning, bang, it's gone."
Mr Mort said it cost about $6,000 to replace the stolen cables.
"And the price of copper is going up and up … at the moment it's sky high."
He has resorted to hiring help to ward off potential thieves.
"I installed cameras … I have drive-by security patrols at night," Mr Mort said.
"That costs us probably $300 or $400 a week [at] each site."
Air-conditioning units targeted
Thieves in Townsville stripped about $100,000 worth of copper from more than a dozen air conditioning units on the roof of a business complex.
Tenant and BFiTT gym owner Ben Chapman said temporary units had been installed, but it could take 12 weeks for a permanent replacement.
"They avoided the ladder access points with cameras on them and just scaled up the side of the building with a big ladder," he said.
"There's definitely a lot of risk involved … It's not exactly low voltage up there."
Deadly consequences
Ergon Energy said would-be thieves risked paying a high price for their actions.
"We are worried someone is going to get hurt, or worse, for the sake of a few bucks," Mr Alderman said.
"Interfering with the live electricity network could lead to significant burns, disfiguring injuries or death."
Townsville police said the perpetrators also risked the lives of others by tampering with live wires.
"There is a chance that it may explode. There is a chance that you yourself will be electrocuted … you put the greater community at risk," acting chief superintendent Chris Lawson said.
"We need to make sure as a community that we're vigilant.
"If you identify people that are in places they shouldn't be after hours or something unusual, report those matters to police."
