Posted on 06/03/2014 7:21:56 AM PDT by csvset
A sophisticated network of metal thieves has targeted some 20 French wind turbines in a new looting trend, scaling the near 40-metre-high structures and stealing up to one tonne of metal from a single engine, Le Figaro reported Wednesday.
Citing an anonymous police source, the daily newspaper said the ring stole metal from wind farms in sparsely populated areas, where they had less chance of being caught.
“They cut the power to turn off the engine propeller motor,” the officer said, noting the thieves broke through the doors at the bottom of the turbines, before using the stairs to reach the engine which is located at the top – often as high as 40 metres off the ground. “By using bolt cutters and makeshift tools they then cut and ripped out the whole metal wiring, which is mostly made of copper,” he said.
The officer said a metal raid of a single wind turbine engine could amount to as much as one tonne of loot. One tonne of copper is estimated to be worth around 4,500 euros on the market.
But the officer said the thieves take great risks, since their modus operandi means they’re stuck within the turbines for several minutes during the raids, with no alternative exits to the bottom door.
According to Le Figaro, at least 20 such incidents have been recorded recently. Two successful raids and one foiled attempt were reported in March alone.
In response to the escalated number of raids, turbine operators have installed video surveillance systems, while police have begun patrolling particularly large wind farms with helicopters equipped with cameras.
“If it’s not a national problem yet, it’s soon going to become one” an unnamed investigator told the newspaper.
Between 2012 and 2013, the number of reported metal theft cases in France rose by almost 18 percent, from 11,811 to 13,923. Copper made up 65 percent of the stolen metal.
Why not put GPS devices inside them?
lol
In the wiring?
These things are nothing but huge money pits anyway
“But the officer said the thieves take great risks, since their modus operandi means they’re stuck within the turbines for several minutes during the raids, with no alternative exits to the bottom door. “
Several minutes to strip the copper motor windings and carry up to a ton of the metal down the stairs? Methinks they are there a hell of a lot longer than that.
Excellent!
Ring the windmills with razor wire fences with mines inside the ring.
I doubt they ‘carry the metal’ downstairs....................Thrown is more likely.....................
Terrorists would steal the mines......................or try to...............
Since this is France, they could coat the windmills in soap................
This is actually about copper theft.
Copper has a huge black market demand and is a low risk and high profit crime.
Its very difficult to deter and is a huge worldwide problem.
They will soon probably find a couple of cops at the bottom when they try to exit. The French are actually pretty sharp at catching dumb criminals.
“carry up to a ton of the metal down the stairs?”
Why carry. Let gravity do the work.
Is there a window? LOL And you still have to cut it out of the motor windings. Not in “several minutes” you won’t.
Isn’t that Pink Panther still out there?
“Is there a window?”
More like a convertible.
Stealing copper wire and selling it to wind farm construction companies.
It’s called, recycling.
Reid is trying to steal the Bundy ranch to put a wind farm (Chinese owners) there.
Cut the wire t the top & GRAVITY carries the line DOWN. What kind of school are these journalists attending?
““They cut the power to turn off the engine propeller motor,”
All kinds of things wrong with that sentence.
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