Police hunt copper thieves after 30,000-volt line cut

POLICE are hunting thieves who risked their own lives and put others at risk after attempting to steal copper from a high-voltage power line.

Officers in West Lothian are appealing for information after the would-be thieves attempted to down a 300-metre section of the line on a path near Uphall station, Livingston.

Horse riders later came across the 33,000-volt line, which was left dangling dangerously close to the path.

It was quickly repaired, but police are now hunting those responsible for the botched theft, which took place close to Marchfield Terrace between 9am and 2pm on Thursday.

The incident comes just weeks after police launched a new crackdown on the underground trade in stolen metal, which is estimated to cost Britain almost 800 million a year.

More than 20 police forces across Scotland, England and Wales took part in a day of action, including raids on illicit scrap yards, to combat the black-market trade, which has been fuelled by the rising value of copper, bronze and lead.

War memorials and statues have been stolen, along with manhole covers from roads and cattle grids. Churches have also been targeted by thieves seeking lead, and power cuts have been caused by thefts from electricity substations.

A spokesman for Lothian and Borders Police said Thursday's incident had left the live power line in an area where the public could have come into contact with it.

He said: "Although the thieves were unsuccessful in their attempt to obtain the copper, their actions posed a serious risk to the public using the path, and we are appealing for any information that can help us identify them.

"Anyone who was on the path on Thursday, who noticed anyone acting suspiciously there, should contact police at the earliest opportunity."

The theft of copper from power lines is an increasingly common, if extremely dangerous, crime.

A spokesman for Scottish Power said: "Deliberately trying to bring down a live high-voltage line beggars belief.

"It is incredibly dangerous and this group are not only seriously endangering their own lives but those of the general public."

Last month, BT said attacks on its network of copper cables in Scotland rose by 9 per cent last year.

It said the attacks, which were mainly thefts, left vulnerable people isolated, limited access to the emergency services and cost the company millions of pounds every year.