A $5,000 reward is being offered by NYSEG for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever is behind a recent rash of thefts from power substations.
At least six substations in Erie and Wyoming counties have been stripped of copper wiring.
This most recent theft was discovered November 16 at the NYSEG substation on Walden Avenue in Alden. The suspects cut through a security fence and stole around $1,500 in copper.
On October 3, thefts were reported at the substations on State Road in Colden and Hunn Road in the Town of Boston. A theft was reported at the substation on Girdle Road in Elma on October 10.
A theft at the substation in Springville was discovered November 1 after a power outage. Deputies say the thieves cut security gate locks to get into the substations and remove the copper. In the Springville theft, one cable that was cut carried 28,000-volts.
On November 12, a theft was reported at the substation on Olean Road in the Town of Holland. Around 75 feet of copper wiring was taken.
The thefts in Erie County have caused more than $14,000 in damage.
Cooper thieves have also struck substations and wind farms in Wyoming County over the past couple of months. The thefts are continuing despite a man’s death last July.
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