Copper thieves caught green-handed

Thieves trying to steal copper from electricity substations in Rochdale will now be caught green-handed.

United Utilities has teamed up with forensic security specialists, SmartWater, to trial the use of forensic water on its copper cables across the region.

The water glows green under ultraviolet light and makes cables easier to trace if they are stolen.

Its use means copper cabling can be traced to a particular location and it acts as irrefutable proof of ownership.

United Utilities operates the electricity network on behalf of Electricity North West which is spending £200,000 on the project.

Police forces across the UK are equipped with UV lighting to detect SmartWater and independent scrap merchants and major recyclers are refusing to handle metals marked with it.

Steve Cox, United Utilities’ central engineering services manager, said: “This is bad news for thieves as it makes it increasingly difficult to sell their ill-gotten gains.

“Besides the cost of replacing stolen copper cabling, its theft also causes a serious risk to the security of power supplies to our customers.

“We also take the safety of the general public very seriously.

“Tampering with substations is extremely dangerous and people are putting their lives at risk every time they break in.”

Phil Cleary, chief executive of SmartWater, said: “Law enforcement agencies have successfully used SmartWater to help prosecute hundreds of offenders across the UK and we maintain a 100% conviction rate.”