Shock horror for would-be power cable thief

[jeff of pa]

LONDON (Reuters) - Police in central England are hunting for a badly scorched would-be copper power cable thief after finding a hacksaw embedded in an 11,000 volt power cable Saturday night.

The thief, who also left a lit blow torch at the scene, is expected to be badly charred, spiky haired and not exactly the brightest bulb in the socket.


http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL1283190120080212

 

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[UncleVinnys]

Hah! Good one!

 

[Mighty AP]

Shocking story!

 

[WV Hillbilly]

Being an ex electrician I resemble that remark .

 

[boogeyman]

I work security for a large power company. One night we get a call from PD asking for one of our security personnel to come to a location. Two transients were trying to get some cash for meth (they're own statements). They cut through a chainlink fence, pried open a transformer cabinet, and proceeded to try to cut throug an energized cable. They shorted to ground. Ended up the one guy had 3rd degree burns from the thighs up. The second guy (cutter) had 3rd degree burns over 80 percent of his body, and pretty much burned off both hands. He stumbled into a gas station & asked if someone could call 911 for his buddy. At least he won't be stealing copper anymore.

Then to top it off the other company had a guy climb a pole about a week later, complete with pole climbers belt etc and tried to unbolt a transformer. He was shocked into unconsioness and was hanging on the pole. We got the call, refered PD to the other companys security Dept. They shut the circuit down got him down. THank god I didn't have to take the report on this one too!

With the price of copper we'll be seeing more stories like this.

 

[Tubecity]

I spent almost 9 years as a professional tree trimmer(line clearance journeyman)
for a large power co. & cleared trees from energized power lines carrying anything from 4,000 volts to well over 150,000 . If he bit into 11,000 volts
with a hacksaw, I'm surprised he walked away from it. I've seen that stuff do
some pretty wild things. Got smart & moved on, sometimes miss the climbing
but not hanging over those wires.