Copper Cable Crime Surge Threatens British EV Revolution

Shortly before midnight on a recent Friday, an alarming incident in Chelmsford, Essex, signalled the growing threat to the UK’s expanding electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. A man, hooded and dressed in shorts, emerged from woodland beside a local pub, equipped with garden shears. He systematically severed the charging cables from four electric car stations before promptly vanishing into the night. Shortly afterwards, CCTV captured him arriving in a black Ford Mustang Mach E, collecting the cut cables and driving away within moments.

This theft was not an isolated event. Within days, a similar episode unfolded at a Morrisons supermarket in Hampshire, some 86 miles away. The suspect was interrupted partway through another cable heist by vigilant remote security staff, who alerted police. Upon apprehending the 32-year-old, officers discovered a stash of class A drugs, cutting tools, false number plates and several stolen cables. The investigation remains ongoing after his release.

Charging infrastructure operators have grown increasingly anxious about this crime wave. James Moat, chief executive of charging company Evyve, revealed that approximately one third of their 300 charging points have been targeted in the past year, with repeat attacks at some locations. Each replacement cable and associated repair typically costs around £30,000—a severe hit when multiplied across a growing estate, not to mention the additional expense of boosted security.

Soaring copper prices have only intensified the problem. The value of copper, heavily used in EV charging cables, recently spiked to $11,000 (£8,200) per tonne from around $7,500 three years ago. While a single cable contains just £30 of copper, thieves can net a tidy sum by targeting several charging bays in one sweep. Organised criminal groups are widely believed to be orchestrating these thefts, selling the metal on to scrap dealers. Charging networks have reported that prosecutions are rare and the scale of thefts continues to rise.

This surge is having a measurable impact. According to Osprey, one of the top UK charging networks, as many as one in ten of the nation’s 17,000 rapid and ultra-rapid chargers were at one point out of action this summer because of cable theft. InstaVolt, the UK’s biggest rapid charging network, has suffered the loss of 990 cables since 2023, mostly in the current year, underscoring the scale of the challenge. While many of these chargers are restored quickly, the constant threat and required attention are slowing network expansion and distracting operators from broader growth initiatives.

Various defensive measures are being implemented to counteract cable theft. Charging providers are investing in security technology, from cable-cut alarms and GPS tracking to CCTV surveillance and armoured cable sheaths. These solutions, though somewhat effective, have significantly increased operational costs at a time when many operators are not yet profitable.

If this wave of crime persists, there could be repercussions for the wider EV transition. Broken infrastructure deters motorists from purchasing electric vehicles and erodes progress towards government goals, including the ban on new petrol vehicle sales by 2030. Stronger deterrents and targeted policing, in addition to security investments, will be required to ensure that the march towards net zero remains on track despite rising metal theft.