Police have described “serious disruption to communities” as a result of cable theft
Thieves attempted to steal 400 metres of underground cable from a Cambridgeshire village before crashing their van into a ditch. Police seized the van after the theft in Abbots Ripton on Monday (December 1), and found it had been stolen.
A Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson explained: “Thieves are continuing to target underground cables in our area – and it’s causing serious disruption to communities. The latest incident happened overnight on Monday in Abbots Ripton, where thieves attempted to steal around 400 metres of underground cable.
“But their plans didn’t go as expected – the vehicle they were using ended up in a ditch! It’s now been seized and found to have been stolen from elsewhere in the county in October.
“Cable theft is not just a crime – it can leave homes and businesses without power, phones and internet and cost thousands to repair.”
Cambridgeshire Police has appealed to anyone who sees suspicious activity to get in touch. This activity could include people working on cables late at night, unusual activity near roadside boxes or vehicles parked in rural areas.
You should call police immediately on 999 if a crime is in progress or call 101 to report information. You can also report anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
