Copper wire stolen from SaskPower facility in Regina

The Regina Police Service is investigating the theft of copper wire from a SaskPower compound on Albert Street North.

However, in a media release Friday, police said the case was about more than just a break and enter.

“In addition to the property damage and theft, there’s concern for public safety in this particular incident,” the police said.

The release explained officers responded Wednesday at about 9:30 a.m., to a SaskPower energy site at 160 Albert St.

They were told someone had broken in at some point over the long weekend and had cut and removed copper wire, which had been fastened to a fence in order to ground the site.

On Tuesday, an employee had noticed three locks had been cut on the west side of the compound and had replaced them with new locks to secure the property. That night, one of the new locks was cut and more copper grounding was stolen.

“According to officials from SaskPower, the removal of the copper grounding has the potential to electrify the fence, posing a potential serious risk to public safety, and to the perpetrators themselves, of electrocution and possible death,” the police release added.

“This matter is under investigation but there is a larger concern for public safety since the compound is in a heavily populated urban area and any unauthorized entry into the site or subsequent thefts could pose a public safety risk.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the Regina Police Service at 306-777-6500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.