DPU: Men caught swiping copper wire from utility poles
By T&D Staff Thursday, October 23, 2008Two men were in custody Wednesday afternoon, accused of stealing copper ground wires from Orangeburg Department of Public Utility electric poles.
About 20 ground wires were taken from about five DPU utility poles behind Husqvarna Outdoor Products on Brentwood Road.
DPU officials say the total cost of replacing the copper is expected to be at least $2,000.
“We have not done a complete inventory yet,” said John Bagwell, DPU electric division director.
Bagwell said he received a call around 3 p.m. from a DPU field employee informing him that a utility contractor witnessed individuals cutting copper off of utility poles.
The Orangeburg County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating the matter.
“We were just at the right place at the right time,” Bagwell said. He thanked the Sheriff’s Office for its quick response.
The theft will not impact utility operations.
Bagwell said, “Ground wires are meant to help the utility systems’ equipment from being damaged and it helps the public from being injured in cases where we have a downed line. There is public endangerment involved.”
Bagwell said this is not the first time someone has stolen the utility’s copper.
“We have put razor wire in our substations to keep people from stealing,” he said.
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