Fraudster attempts copper cable theft

Date: 30/6/2011

A fraudster has attempted to steal copper phone cables after posing as a workman.

Wearing a reflective jacket, Dean Monaghan placed cones and roadwork signs around a BT manhole near Blairgowrie in Perthshire.

According to the Perthshire Advertiser, Mr Mongahan was spotted and duly arrested before being able to get away with the cables.

The crime could have resulted in thousands of BT customers having their phone lines cut, as the cables were live and connected to the telephone system.

Police noted a number of items - including a hacksaw and two sizeable cutters - were found at the scene.

Depute fiscal Rebecca Kynaston said: "There were a further two manhole covers on the same stretch of road which had been opened."

The news comes after the Swindon Advertiser recently reported the Freudenberg Nonwonven factory in Swindon had to close for two weeks after thieves stole copper piping from the building.
 

Posted by Jason Page