Crackdown on electric vehicle charging cable theft and vandalism

A spate of electric vehicle (EV) charging cable thefts and incidents of charge point vandalism have led to the launch of a new initiative.

Charge point operator BeEV has partnered with Formula Space and Derbyshire Police to crackdown on charging cable vandalism in Chesterfield.

BeEV says that charging theft is a massive issue disrupting charge point operators across the country, with theft and vandalism costing the industry upwards of £500,000 based on the cost of replacement, repair and lost income.

In response to the recent spate of EV charging cable thefts, BeEV has launched the ‘Charging Hub Intelligent Protection’ initiative, or CHIP, to deter future charger vandalism and keep locations safe and available for drivers.

BeEV is also calling on the industry at large to make sure that charging hubs across the country are equipped with similar security features to deter criminals.

It has installed a mobile CCTV system which is monitored around the clock, and a tannoy system to warn any gangs of criminals that they’re being recorded.

The new system will automatically alert local police should any criminal activity occur, and the site’s new ‘Selecta DNA’ protected cables give each of them a unique DNA coating, meaning the police can easily trace their origin, associate them with a criminal, and hold the vandals to account. These new security features will now be a staple at future BeEV locations.

Adrian Fielden-Gray, BeEV’s chief operating officer, said: “Cable theft is an absolute nightmare for everyone – especially drivers.

“The industry’s number one priority needs to be making sure these criminals never consider vandalising a charging site ever again. We need to come together and use the full force of the law to crack down on thieves and scrap dealers alike.

“That’s why we’re now investing heavily in protective measures whilst working closely with Derbyshire Police and our partners Formula Space.

“We’re working hard to eliminate the problem for Chesterfield’s EV drivers and ensure that our ultra-rapid charging hubs remain available to communities across the UK.”

EV drivers across the country are facing the same issue, with charge point operators having experienced cases of vandalism and theft in recent months. 

Britain's largest operator of rapid chargers, InstaVolt revealed it had 174 cables stolen from 27 sites from November 2023 to July 2024.

Thieves are cutting charging cables to strip and sell the copper wiring inside to illegal scrap dealers.

However, the cable wiring is not worth that much with a recent CBN News report looking into charging cable thefts in Canada finding that chargers only contain about $5 worth of copper metal – less than £4.

BeEV says that its Chesterfield hub provides a template for the rest of the industry to follow and to stop the vandals once and for all.

PCSO Emma Shimwell at Derbyshire Police, said: “It's essential for all of us, charge point operators and law enforcement alike, to collaborate effectively and implement robust security measures, just like at BeEV's new site protection initiative here at this Chesterfield hub.

“By installing systems like CCTV, cable DNA tracking, and 24/7 security monitoring, we can deter opportunistic thieves who would think twice before attempting theft or vandalism, knowing it would likely lead to criminal prosecution.”