THIEVES are dicing with death and making the electricity network deadly by stealing safety equipment from substations across Comet country. EDF Energy Networks, one of the UK s largest energy companies, has recorded an unprecedented increase in break-ins

THIEVES are dicing with death and making the electricity network deadly by stealing safety equipment from substations across Comet country.

EDF Energy Networks, one of the UK's largest energy companies, has recorded an unprecedented increase in break-ins and thefts that target electrical equipment essential for the safe supply of power to homes and businesses.

For security reasons the exact locations and equipment targeted cannot be disclosed but critical protection systems, designed to cut off the power when a fault occurs, are being disabled, rendering the electricity network lethal.

Alan Feakins, EDF Energy Networks' director of customer operations, said:

"These thieves have displayed persistent and careless disregard for their own lives and place themselves in situations which dice with death.

"As much as we invest in further security for our network we fear it is a matter of time before one of these attacks result in a serious fault on our network, or worse - a death."

Vandals avoided coming into contact with up to 33,000 volts when they brought down overhead power lines in Graveley, and the electricity supply to nearly 2,000 customers was interrupted.

EDF Energy Networks is upgrading the security systems on its network and is appealing to the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity seen at the company's substations or overhead lines.

Anyone with information, contact Crimestoppers on: 0800 555 111 or EDF Energy Networks on: 0800 096 9960.