Copper cabling thief receives shock of a lifetime

Thursday, 23 August, 2012

An alleged thief got more than he bargained for on Tuesday night, receiving an electric shock while trying to steal copper cabling from an unoccupied Adelaide factory.

The man entered a fenced-off electrical substation and inadvertently touched a power bar containing 6350 V, leaving him with burns to his left hand as well as exit burns on his head and thighs.

He was taken by ambulance to the Royal Adelaide Hospital and was reportedly undergoing surgery on Wednesday afternoon. He will face criminal charges for being unlawfully on the substation premises.

“Police again wish to reiterate the risks associated with stealing copper and other cabling and remind the public that it is not only illegal but handling electrical cables by the unqualified is also very dangerous,” South Australian Police said in a statement.

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