Since November, a total of 23 incidents of copper wire theft have been reported in London, with 21 of those taking place in the downtown area. The thefts have targeted both commercial and residential properties, with significant disruption to local infrastructure.
Authorities are continuing to investigate the pattern of thefts, which have raised concerns among property owners and business operators.
XFM News spoke with Ysni Semsedini, CEO of London Hydro, to discuss how businesses can avoid and prevent copper thefts.
“Look out for any strange behaviour,” Semsedini said. “A lot of these thefts happen at odd hours. We’ve identified that many incidents occur between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. in the downtown core.”
He added that if people notice unusual activity, such as individuals walking around with power tools or crowbars, or grinding metal, they should be cautious. “That should be a red flag,” Semsedini said. “We encourage people to call police or Crime Stoppers.”
Semsedini also addressed the role of scrap dealers, saying they have been diligent in ensuring proper identification of individuals bringing in copper. “They are required to notify City Hall when copper is delivered to them,” he explained. “We ask them to continue being vigilant and to follow their processes to minimize the amount of scrap passing through dealers.”
XFM News then spoke with Sean Travis, detective inspector of the Criminal Investigation Division, about the growing issue of copper theft.
“There were concerns that not only some hydro sites but also other buildings and construction sites around the city had been targeted and stripped of copper,” Travis said.
He added that some of the thefts occurred at abandoned locations, while others took place at active sites. “The theft of copper from hydro sites not only disrupts property owners, but it also presents a significant safety risk to the community and to the thieves themselves,” Travis explained.
Travis urged the public to remain vigilant and contact police if they have any information. “They can call 519-661-5670 if they observe suspicious activity that is not an emergency,” he said. “But if it’s an emergency situation where safety is at risk, we urge people to call 911.”
