Police warning after switched-on officers prevent cable theft

A potentially lethal attempt to steal electrical cable has been foiled by police.

Officers in Fife caught two men as they allegedly tried to steal electrical cable at Wormit Quarry.

The officers were on patrol in the Wormit area on Thursday when they noticed a van parked near to the entrance of the quarry, and decided to investigate.

They then found the men had dug a trench exposing a length of the buried cable.

Two men were arrested and will be reported to the procurator fiscal at Cupar in due course.

This latest incident comes after a Leven man was seriously injured while making a similar attempt in the Methil area late last year.

Inspector Donald Jenks said: “The danger that thieves put themselves in while attempting to steal cable is frightening. There is no way of easily telling if cable that has been dug up is live or not.

“The damage that is caused to utilities is considerable, not to mention the inconvenience that subsequent power outages and repairs cause to businesses and private houses.”