Cable thieves strike again: Solar park in Illerich is robbed!

Cable thieves strike again: Solar park in Illerich is robbed!

In the Cochem-Zell district, a new case of cable theft from a solar park in Illerich causes excitement. Unknown perpetrators have stolen copper cables from the system in the past time and have opened all cable ducts. The police have asked for information on suspicious observations in the past few days. A precise time of theft has so far been unclear.

These criminal acts are not an isolated case. As early as January, two other solar parks in Hambuch and Ulmen copper cable were stolen, which led to considerable damage. In addition, there was an incident in the nearby district of Ahrweiler, in which cable cut in a solar park in Wehr, but were not stolen. The police assume that the perpetrators may have been disturbed in their project.

increase in cable theft in Germany

A look at the national borders shows that the increase in cable class is not just a local problem. In Saxony-Anhalt, the number of cable classes has increased continuously in recent years. In 2022, a total of 327 cases of copper theft were recorded, which corresponds to almost 100 thefts more than five years ago. The damage caused by these passes add up to a considerable 8.3 million euros.

In the Bördekreis region, solar parks are also the target of thieves. In the first half of 2023, ten of a total of 24 thefts from solar parks were registered there. These thefts not only lead to financial losses, but also affect the infrastructure of renewable energy systems that are urgently needed to advance the energy transition.

market development for copper and consequences of the thefts

The increased demand for copper, an essential component in almost all electrical devices, contributes to the attractiveness of criminals. The metal belongs to the "gold of the energy transition" and is used in batteries of electric vehicles and in semiconductor cabling. According to experts, the value of copper could increase by a factor of two by 2035, which further increases the incentive for thieves.

metal and scrap dealers in Germany have already taken measures to examine the origin of the copper and to avoid stolen goods. Dealers pay between six and seven euros per kilogram and pay particular attention to suspicious customers and quantities. Nevertheless, the risk of life -threatening situations in thefts, especially close to high -voltage lines.

In addition, Deutsche Bahn plans to stop 500 additional security staff in the next two years to counter the problem of copper thefts. It is to be hoped that such measures can help to deter the perpetrators and to ensure the safety of the energy infrastructure.