Metal thieves target BC Hydro charging stations and it’s not the first time

Electric vehicle charging stations in British Columbia have become a new target for metal thieves, who are cutting cables to steal valuable copper. The latest incident occurred early Tuesday morning at the Port Moody Recreation Centre, where sensors alerted authorities to the damaged chargers.

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They were alerted by sensors in the area that went off, alerting them of the cables being cut.

Const. Sam Zacharias of the Port Moody Police Department stated that upon arrival, no suspects were present, but six BC Hydro fast chargers were found damaged. "Thieves gain a little bit of money from the copper," said Susie Rieder, a BC Hydro spokesperson, noting the payout is around $170 to $200, but customers face disruptions.

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Thieves gain a little bit of money from the copper.

BC Hydro explains that fast chargers are more attractive to thieves because their cables contain more copper than the Level 2 cables used in homes and some public stations. Zacharias observed that the thieves appear knowledgeable and equipped, acting quickly with tools to make off with the materials. "They know what they’re doing, they know what they want, they’re using tools and they’re basically making off very quickly."

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It’s about 170 to 200 dollars, but you know, customers do face disruptions.

Repairing the damaged stations is not a quick process. While BC Hydro aims to restore service within 24 hours, the cost is substantial. Since October, there have been 44 fast charger cable thefts across 22 sites in British Columbia, accumulating repair costs of about $1 million. To combat this, BC Hydro is enhancing security with 22 additional cameras, improved lighting, and approximately 100 protective cable shields at vulnerable locations. Police are also urging the community to report any suspicious activity.

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They know what they’re doing, they know what they want, they’re using tools and they’re basically making off very quickly.