Power tools used in 'stupid' and potentially lethal acts of Stobie pole vandalism

Public safety has been severely compromised in Adelaide's north following a series of brazen acts of vandalism targeting Stobie poles. Four such poles have been damaged in the past month, with some toppling over and exposing dangerous high-voltage electrical lines. Cecilia Schultz, SA Power Networks' external affairs manager, expressed shock at the deliberate nature of these acts, noting that professional equipment like angle grinders was used to cut through the steel and concrete bases of the two-tonne poles.

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We have not seen anything like this before. It is shocking, it is stupid and it is brazen.

Schultz emphasized the extreme danger posed by these actions, stating that the live wires could cause serious injury or death. She highlighted that the perpetrators likely do not grasp the severe risk not only to themselves but also to the public, including pedestrians and young people engaging in recreational activities nearby. The falling poles and exposed infrastructure create a perilous environment where even proximity to the high-voltage equipment can be fatal.

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These wires are live. People could be injured or killed. The people who are doing this simply do not understand the severe risk, not just to themselves but to the people around them.

While the motive remains unclear, Schultz noted that not all vandalized assets contained valuable materials like copper, questioning the rationale behind the destruction. SA Power Networks is appealing to the community to report any relevant mobile phone or dash cam footage to Crime Stoppers. The company urges anyone who spots damaged or leaning poles, or fallen powerlines, to maintain a safe distance of at least 10 meters and report it immediately.

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These are not simple acts of vandalism, they are acts which carry the potential to cause injury, electrocution and death to the many pedestrians or young people undertaking recreation activities in proximity to this infrastructure.