Despite drop in prices, copper thieves hit wind turbines 21 times

HURON COUNTY — A surge of 21 thefts of copper wires or vandalism to wind turbines in Huron County is costing Grand Bend Wind Mill Farm thousands of dollars per theft, police say.
The thieves are placing themselves at great risk of being electrocuted, says an Ontario Provincial Police press release. With each incident, thieves haul off “typically less than $1,000” in copper but it’s costing the wind power company thousands of dollars in interrupted service and repairs, police say. In some cases, thieves forced entry into the base of the wind turbine.
Huron County police officer James Stanley said “Some of the turbines are pretty isolated, and (thieves are) taking advantage.”
This is not the first time that thieves targeted Ontario wind turbines. In 2013, at an Essex County wind project, thieves climbed Hydro poles and stole at least $10,000 in copper.
Despite the recent thefts, copper has lost its lustre. The price of copper peaked just shy of US $4.50/lb.in 2011. Copper prices slowly declined in 2015 and last month prices were hovering around US $2/lb.