They are lopping the hook-up cables off of EV chargers. They tried to make it problematic for scrapyards to buy the stolen copper, but that seems to have been ineffective. Just start shooting them. After a few, the word will get out.
That is most likely the reason my cousin told me he pulled into a charging station and all the EV chargers were “down” - he said they looked like they’d been damaged. Went to another one - same story.
Utility companies often have their copper coated with a specific type of plastic encasing.(only newer copper)
They tell scrappers they will sue if they purchase that copper.
Even if the utility can’t win the case, they can break scrappers.