Copper Thieves Target Portsmouth Firms

23 March 2014, 06:26 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Police are appealing for information following reports of copper and cable thefts in the Portsmouth and Havant area.

On February 27 Pfizer Global Supply in New Lane, Havant, reported the theft of hundreds of metres of electrical feeder cables removed from one of its warehouses causing damage estimated between £20,000 to £50,000.
 
Then sometime between February 28 and March 3, copper cables and elements were stolen from a SSE substation in Fitzherbert Road, Portsmouth. The total value of the items stolen is estimated at £10,000.
 
The latest incident occurred at ENL Ltd in Kilne Road, Portsmouth sometime between March 1 and March 2, when thieves have removed heavy duty copper electric power cables from the industrial unit.
 
At this point in time the costs of repairs are not known, but the business faces significant financial impact as the theft of the cabling means that machinery cannot be run.
 
PC Tony Langton of Portsmouth CID said: "We are pursuing several lines of enquiry in order to find these men and prosecute them.
 
"For the businesses it is not just about the cost of replacing and repairing the damage these criminals have caused, but the impact this is having on trying to keep their day to day production going.
 
"If anyone has any information, particularly if you are in the business of scrap metal dealing and have been offered any scrap metal from suspicious persons contact the police now on 101.
 
"We are appealing for more witnesses and information about the identities of whomever was responsible."

Please contact PC Langton at Portsmouth CID by phoning 101. Information can be given anonymously by phoning the independent Crimestoppers charity on 0800 555 111.