Thieves cut cables from Tesla charging stations in Vallejo, steal inside material

[Caribbeans]

NBC Bay Area | May 13, 2024

Thieves are targeting high-powered Tesla and other EV charging stations and stealing the heavy cable for the copper metal inside.

In Vallejo, someone cut cables from nine charging stations -- leaving Tesla drivers in a bind, and causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage and repair costs.

“It most likely happened in the night, and we found it early morning,” Josh Beckler of Vallejo said. He and his wife were two of the first people to find the cut cables early Mother’s Day morning.

He is also a retired Marine and former investigator for a major big box hardware chain who routinely investigated similar thefts where thieves targeted generators and other items for the copper wire.

“You know, they left five charging stations. I’m pretty sure after they racked up, I don’t know what the quantity was, but almost 20 cables with the nozzles. Those are extremely heavy, so I’m imagining that’s all they could haul at one given time,” Beckler said.

“I think this is the second time, or third that these have been cut, so they need to put some gates up or something. I don’t know what they can do, but this is pretty inconvenient,” John Brown III of American Canyon said...more
https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/north-bay/thieves-cut-tesla-cables/3537241/

Who could have imagined anything like this?

In a state with a booming homeless population?

Or any other state?

How about thick copper extension cords everywhere? LOL


Surely no one would think of stealing this, right?

[brewens]

1. This made me wonder about regulations for EV charging stations. I would say they all need to be universal. Cell phone

chargers pissed me off your years. There was no reason to have to buy new chargers every time I got a new phone. I always had to at least buy a new car charger.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

2. Happening in a lot of states

Quick search shows stories from Washington and Minnesota. I've heard of a couple stories from here in Michigan as well.

[gilpo]

3. All they need to do is ...

keep them energized. The expensive cutters will be arced and ruined on the first cut. Would stop this in a heartbeat. Of course, it might also stop a heartbeat so there should be warning signs.

[Devilsun]

4. Tweakers strike again 🙄

[getagrip_already]

5. Clean copper wire is between $3 to $4/pound.....

It's doesn't take a lot of math to figure out why they do it.

Surprised there isn't a loud alarm/light that goes off when the cable is cut. It would at least reduce the number of units hit in one place at one time.