METAL thieves risked death and left homes and businesses without power when they climbed up electricity posts to steal cable.
Copper cable was stolen from the Chase Meadows area of Blyth, leaving several homes without electricity for a short time.
Police are appealing for anyone with any information about the theft to contact them and are also asking members of the public to be on the lookout for metal thieves.
Chief Insp Peter Reeve, of Northumbria Police’s Northumberland Area Command, said: “Not only are these thieves putting their own lives in danger by tampering with live electric cables, they are cutting off power to local people’s homes, local businesses and potentially putting people’s lives at risk. If anyone sees people behaving suspiciously near electricity cables, power substations, at the side of the road down manhole covers report it to police – officers can carry out checks to ensure they are legitimate workmen fairly quickly and can stop any offenders from committing crimes.
“It’s unusual for legitimate workmen to be working down manhole covers or around substations at night and so if anyone sees activity like this overnight then I’d ask them to report it. Criminals are using unmarked white vans and high visibility vests to appear to the public as legitimate workmen and are counting on people to not give it a second thought.” Witnesses should call 03456 043 043.
