B.C. Hydro says EV charger damage and theft is a rising problem across the province and throughout North America
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Police say thieves cut and stole electric vehicle charging cables from a public lot outside the Port Moody Recreation Complex.
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At about 1 a.m. on Tuesday, officers from the Port Moody Police Department were called to the rec centre on Ioco Road after sensors alerted security that the EV charging cables had been damaged.
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Six cables were cut and stolen, rendering the fast-charging stations inoperable.
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“We are in the evidence gathering phase of this investigation which includes canvassing for possible CCTV footage,” said Const. Sam Zacharias. “The chargers are currently out of commission as B.C. Hydro works to repair them.”
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B.C. Hydro said crews can often restore service quickly and that the Port Moody chargers should be back in service within a day.
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However, Hydro spokesperson Susie Rieder said EV cable vandalism and theft are a growing concern for the Crown utility.
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“Recently, several of our EV charging sites across the province have been impacted by cable theft, including the Port Moody Recreation Complex,” said Rieder. “Tampering with or removing electrical equipment is extremely dangerous and can pose a serious risk of injury.”
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Rieder said it is “part of a broader, industry-wide challenge affecting EV infrastructure across North America and is not unique to B.C. Hydro. “We have seen a significant increase in cable thefts in recent months.”
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Since October of last year, there have been 44 cable theft incidents at its fast-charging sites across B.C., resulting in about $1 million in equipment replacement costs.
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“While the copper inside charging cables has a relatively low resale value, these thefts create costly damage and disrupt service for customers who rely on public charging infrastructure every day,” said Rieder.
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Police have also sounded the alarm in recent months, with Richmond RCMP warning last month about a surge in cable thefts there, and a thief hit six EV charging stations around Greater Victoria last fall in the course of a week.
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Rieder said B.C. Hydro is working on solutions and security.
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“We are actively taking steps to deter future incidents, including enhancing security measures at charging sites through additional cameras, enhanced lighting and protective cable coverings.
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“We are also working closely with local police departments to support their ongoing investigations and help protect this important public infrastructure.”
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Witnesses, or those with information about the theft at the recreation centre, are asked to call Port Moody police.
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