Cable cut for scrap copper

A battery charger cable containing copper worth a couple of pounds as scrap was sawn and stolen, leaving the owner with just the plugs from each end.

Mr Alan Porter (60) of Wordsworth Drive, Balderton, connected the cable from the mains in his house to his caravan’s battery so that it could charge overnight.

He said it was fine when he went to bed on Sunday, but he woke to find there had been a power cut.

After checking the caravan, on his front garden, he found the cable had been cut and stolen.

It is believed the thief risked electrocution to steal the copper inside.

Mr Porter said: “Because they couldn’t get the whole thing away they cut the cable from each end, leaving the two plugs.

“It is getting beyond a joke that you can’t leave something out without someone stealing it.”

Mr Porter said he had never experienced any problems before but urged others to be more careful.

“I would encourage people not to leave cables out. I don’t want it to happen again to someone else,” he said.

A similar incident occurred on the same night at a property on Sheridan Close, Balderton.

Sergeant Tim Burch, of Newark police, said: “Years ago they would have been targeting the caravan and not the extension cable. What’s the point?”

Copper and metal thefts throughout the Newark area have increased due to demand for raw materials in places like China.

A tonne is worth about £240 to a scrap dealer.

Water pipes have been taken from properties, as have pipes connecting gas meters to internal supplies being targeted, leaving a possible risk of explosion.

Bronze door handles have also been stolen from several retail outlets.

Roadside grates have been lifted and catalytic converters stolen from motorists’ cars.