It is a crime that is not only increasing in frequency but becoming more brazen and dangerous. SaskPower is reporting thieves have been targeting the copper in power poles in some parts of the province.

“It’s not just to Regina, to Saskatoon to Weyburn, it’s one that kind of happens all over the province,” said Scott McGregor, a media relations consultant with SaskPower.

After a recent spate of thefts in Regina, the Crown power company took to social media to draw attention to the thefts. The post, which included a photograph of a power pole that had a grounding wire removed, received over a thousand shares within a short period of time.

It also highlighted the dangers which can come about from removing copper from SaskPower facilities, above and beyond the obvious risk of electrocution from handling a part of the electrical infrastructure.

“There’s risk of a power outage that would affect homes or the critical infrastructure of a building and so it definitely goes beyond just simple property crime or mischief or anything like that, and it’s a very serious and real problem, and it’s really dangerous for a lot of people,” McGregor added.

McGregor said residents across the province need to be vigilant, as there are a number of things, when spotted, which will appear very out of place.

“Maybe it’s an unmarked truck that’s parked next to a power line and someone’s working on a power pole; maybe it’s somebody working on a power pole, or appears to be working on a power pole that’s not dressed in safety equipment or SaskPower labeled equipment,” McGregor stated, adding someone working at odd hours will also stand out.

If someone notices suspicious activity around SaskPower equipment, they can call their local police or Crime Stoppers to report the activity.