Copper thieves are targeting Sunshine Coast infrastructure, disrupting essential services, endangering lives and leaving behind a hefty repair bill shared by the community.
Sunshine Coast Council, Energex, police and telecommunications providers say parks, street lights, sporting facilities and power networks have all been hit – with damage across the region costing a fortune annually.
A council spokesperson said copper thefts had caused “significant financial and operational impacts” in recent years, with an estimated $100,000 in annual repair costs.
“Beyond the financial burden on ratepayers, these thefts pose serious safety risks,” they said.
“Thieves are tampering with live electrical systems, risking electrocution or serious injury. The destruction of pit enclosures and connection points also creates hazards for the public and workers.”
Council has installed security measures and says incidents have dropped, but the threat remains.
An Energex spokesperson said there had been 21 copper theft incidents on the local network in the past year, part of a statewide damage bill of $4.5 million.
“People have died attempting to steal copper from live networks,” the spokesperson said.
“The electrical flash from an explosion is a plasma ball hotter than the sun – all for a few dollars’ worth of scrap copper.”
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They warned the consequences could extend to bystanders, including children who might unknowingly come into contact with exposed live wires.
To deter theft, Energex is replacing copper with aluminium cable, adding GPS tracking to newer wires, increasing surveillance and working closely with scrap metal merchants.
Queensland Police said thieves often went to great lengths to appear legitimate, dressing in high-vis gear and using vans or utility vehicles to avoid suspicion.
“Copper is valuable as scrap metal because it can be reused in fibre optics, plumbing and electrical parts,” a spokesperson said.
“Thieves may think wires are an easy target but removing cabling is very dangerous and can be fatal. Those involved can face serious charges such as burglary and stealing, with significant penalties.”
Police are urging the public to report suspicious activity, such as open utility access points, stripped wires or discarded insulation, by calling Policelink on 131 444.
There were 10 incidents of copper cable theft from state-controlled roads on the Sunshine Coast last financial year.
A Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) spokesperson said the issue was widespread across the country and other sectors.
“To reduce theft, we’re using aluminium instead of copper, upgrading infrastructure security, installing CCTV and encouraging public reporting through electronic roadside signs,” they said.
In some cases, TMR has had to deploy temporary lighting and reduce speed limits due to the safety risks created by missing cabling.
Copper theft has also caused service disruptions across the region.
A Telstra spokesperson said the Sunshine Coast had multiple incidents in recent years, contributing towards millions of dollars in national repair costs.
“Copper still plays a role in our network and the impact on customers can be significant, with outages lasting hours or days,” they said.
“Telstra has a dedicated Copper Theft Prevention Team working with police and scrap metal partners, leading to more than 140 arrests in the past two years – 29 of them in Queensland.”
They said offenders faced community service, large fines and jail time.
An NBN Co spokesperson confirmed that underground infrastructure had been targeted as well.
“Not only is this illegal, it’s highly dangerous and can affect vulnerable people relying on the network for work, education or emergencies,” they said.
“We continue to work closely with police and industry partners to investigate these disruptive and disappointing crimes.”
