Central Networks, the electricity distribution company for central England, is warning people to stay away from its substations as vandals again put their lives in danger by stealing copper cabling.

In three separate incidents last week across the East Midlands - in Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire - thieves broke into key substations and ripped out vital safety equipment.

Phil Wilson, Customer Operations Manager with Central Networks, said: "This type of vandalism is becoming all too a common a trend, it brings thieves little financial reward and could cost them their life.

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"These people really need to wake up to the reality that their behaviour can not only cause a huge inconvenience to others but, by ignoring safety warnings, they risk being seriously injured or even killed.

"It really could be the last thing they do."

In Nottinghamshire, at a site on Stapleford Lane in Toton, thieves risked being fatally injured by stealing copper cabling at a site receiving a direct feed from Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station, carrying a massive 132,000 volts.

Central Networks routine checks have also highlighted similar problems in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire. Last week vandals broke into sites on Hinckley Road in Uppingham and Pipewell Road in Desborough, disconnecting and stealing copper earthing. Both incidences were at Primary substations carrying 33,000 volts of electricity.

This reckless action of thieves targeting electricity substations has previously led to a number of serious injuries, but luckily in all three of these occasions no one was hurt and no customers supply was lost as a result.

(CD/GK)