Thieves stole 8,000 pounds of copper cable in Surrey theft, BC Hydro says

The end of a copper cable is seen in this file photo. (Pexels/Nic Wood)

Thieves in Surrey stole more than a kilometre of copper cable late last year, in a theft that was discovered less than two weeks after BC Hydro issued a public warning about the practice.

The theft came to light on Dec. 24, BC Hydro said in a news release Tuesday. A driver reported running over a maintenance hole on 64 Avenue that had had its lid removed, the utility said.

“While the immediate hazard was addressed, a full inspection of the area revealed copper cable was cut in 14 maintenance holes and had been stolen from three,” the release reads, noting that the thefts occurred along 64 Avenue between 159 and 162 streets.

“In total, thieves removed approximately 1,300 metres of copper cable weighing more than 8,000 pounds,” BC Hydro said.

The spot price of copper was more than $8 a pound Tuesday, meaning a rough estimate of the stolen cable’s value would be about $64,000.

Just 13 days before the theft was discovered, BC Hydro had issued an information bulletin, warning the public that copper thefts from maintenance holes had risen more than 300 per cent over the preceding 18 months.

The utility warned that such thefts are “not just costly, but could be potentially fatal,” as cutting copper cables is similar to tampering with a live power line.

“One wrong move can be deadly,” BC Hydro said at the time.

On Tuesday, the company said thieves have been using vehicles and winches to tear the cables out from underground, with “approximately 22” similar thefts reported around B.C. since April 2024.

“These larger copper thefts typically occur over weeks or months because the cables are extremely heavy and difficult to remove,” BC Hydro said. “In this case, the theft is believed to have occurred between October and December 2025.”

The utility said the copper cable in its underground systems is “primarily neutral wiring” that doesn’t usually cause a power outage when cut. The thefts do create serious hazards, however, including risks to the public from open and unsecured maintenance holes, electrical shock hazards from exposed wiring, and safety risks for crews forced to repair and replace the cut and stolen cables.

“Copper theft isn’t just property damage, it’s extremely dangerous and puts lives at risk,” said BC Hydro spokesperson Susie Rieder, in the release.

“Open maintenance holes, exposed wiring and damaged electrical systems can all lead to catastrophic injuries or fatalities. We need the public’s help to report suspicious activity so we can prevent someone from getting seriously hurt.”

Anyone who sees an open or suspiciously disturbed maintenance hole or sees people working on BC Hydro infrastructure without a clearly marked vehicle should call 911 or BC Hydro’s security command centre, which can be reached at 1-877-311-8611.

“Never assume electrical equipment is de-energized,” the utility said. “A downed power line or damaged equipment is extremely dangerous and should be treated as an emergency. Stay at least 10 metres away—the length of a standard bus—and call 911 right away.”

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