Thieves in the Perth suburb of Mirrabooka have targeted light-poles to steal an estimated 15,000 meters of cabling, with the copper inside being a valuable commodity. This ongoing issue, as highlighted by Main Roads, not only results in extensive financial costs for repairs but also causes disruption and safety hazards for the community as lighting along critical paths gets affected. The thefts have left a 1.8-kilometer stretch of lighting for a principal shared path in Mirrabooka completely dark, leading to concerns about the safety of pedestrians and cyclists using the area.
According to James Pinnington, the acting director of metropolitan operations, the aftermath of these thefts is not just about the stolen cables but also about the significant damage caused by the thieves in the process. The thieves leave behind a trail of cut and stripped cable, making it a time-consuming and meticulous task for crews to assess the extent of the damage and plan for replacements. Despite efforts to secure the cabling and prevent future thefts, the thieves remain motivated and well-prepared, often revisiting sites and stealing replacement cabling, adding to the financial burden of Main Roads.
The ongoing challenge for Main Roads is not only the financial impact of the thefts, estimated at $2 to $3 million annually for cable replacement, but also the difficulties in preventing such crimes. Efforts to secure the cabling, including using lockable lids for pits, have not been successful in deterring the thieves, who sometimes disguise themselves as legitimate maintenance workers to go undetected. With discussions ongoing with WA Police on how to address the issue, Main Roads is facing a complex problem given the vast network of power poles across the area, making it challenging to prevent these targeted thefts effectively.