A string of cable thefts in Nottinghamshire has led Western Power Distribution to put SmartWater to use in its network.
The company has begun marking its cables and other property with the indelible forensic liquid, which uniquely identifies any item it has been applied to.
Western Power Distribution had suffered 200 cases of theft from its network in the past 12 months. In one instance 2,400 metres of copper cable, which had only just been laid, was stripped from a substation at Clipstone. Despite only stealing copper of minimal scrap value, the resulting damage will costs thousands to repair.
The use of SmartWater in the company's network will provide a deterrent to thieves, who understand the effects of SmartWater, and also allow the police to identify Western Power Distribution's property during their regular searches of scrapyards and recycling centres. If marked metals are found, they can be traced through the SmartWater database to their owner and provide evidence for further investigations and even prosecutions.
SmartWater is now deployed in telecoms, transport and utilities networks across the UK, increasing the risk to thieves that they will be traced and caught if they attack critical infrastructure.
Peter Lowe, Security Risk Manager for Western Power Distribution, said the price of copper was at an all-time high, making it a tempting target for thieves.
He added: “These crimes are not victimless and can cause much disruption. If there is a power cut then hospitals and other critical services could face major disruption, as well as people losing power in their homes.”
Police are pushing for tougher powers to deal with the scrap merchants who buy stolen metal, while Western Power Distribution has offered a £5,000 reward for information leading to the prosecution of cable thieves.