Cable Theft Threatens UK Telecoms Network

Theft of cable used for telecommunication networks has increased by nearly 10% and British Telecom says it is threatening services throughout the country. They intend to fight back with an invisible solution ‘SmartWater.’

High scrap copper prices are a great incentive for thieves to target the telecoms network in both rural communities and isolated areas. SmartWater forensically tags the thief and the metal, and can even provide a location ‘signature.’

Invented by a scientist at a company called SmartWater, the solution is backed not only by British Telecom, but also by the British Transport Police.

The SmartWater allows the police to trace the metal and the thief, and makes use of tagging via forensic methods.

The announcement suggests that it will be used to ‘spray’ thieves when they enter certain British Telecom properties. This appears similar to sprays which are used in money packs which are stolen from banks. Once opened, they mark the notes and the criminal.

Robin Conway, a Detective Inspector from British Transport Police, said: “Cable and metal theft is high on our agenda due to the disruption and economic effect it has on businesses and communities. Anyone arrested for metal theft will be examined for traces of SmartWater. A search will be made of the person’s house and any property, including vehicles with traces of SmartWater on them, is likely to be seized by police. Scrap metal dealers will also be visited regularly to ensure they are assisting British Transport Police in identifying criminals attempting to sell stolen metal.”

The problem is costing British Telecom millions a year having to replace the cable and provide engineering teams to do the work. A pilot project in North London has been a great success, with criminals being tracked from the scene of the crime, to local scrapyards and also their homes.

Anyone spotting suspicious activity are advised not to make a citizen’s arrest, but phone 999.

And for anyone wondering what suspicious activity constitutes, British Telecom provide a helpful list.

One of the biggest give-aways is people working on a telecom network that are not wearing the appropriately branded corporate clothing (in the case of British Telecom, they should be wearing clothing with the Openreach branding, or display signs that they are contractors working on behalf of Openreach). So, you might not spot a striped shirt, but a dirty yellow safety vest might be a give-away.

More so with the vehicles. A beaten-up old Post Office van is not the sort of vehicle you’ll see Openreach engineers use, nor most contractors.

But whatever you spot, British Telecom are keen to point out that you shouldn’t become some sort of cable vigilante – instead make notes about the people you see and vehicle license plates, and then ring the police.

Don’t be a hero.