Thieves target EV charging cables

Company car drivers are being warned not to leave the charging cables for their electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles unsecured, as criminals are targeting the high-value items.

Waste removal company Divert.co.uk say that you shouldn’t leave your electric charging cable outside your home unnecessarily, as scrap metal thieves have labelled them as must-have items.

“Car chargers are particularly appealing to thieves because they can be sold for up to £200 and they are selling them everywhere, eBay, Facebook, and to dodgy scrap dealers,” said Mark Hall, founding director of Divert.co.uk. “And they can be pretty costly and inconvenient for you to replace, so it’s best to keep it locked away from the crooks.”

The copper in telephone cables and lead from church roofs are common targets for organised thieves and the metal in electric car chargers is becoming increasingly sought after by thieves looking to make quick money, according to Hall.

“With more people going green and choosing electric cars over petrol and diesel, there are more charging cables available for thieves to target,” he said.

Most plug-in vehicles have systems in place that lock the charger into position, allowing the owners to leave the car charging securely. Sometimes this requires the vehicle to be locked, however.

Hall advises that drivers keep the charging cable locked away and out of sight when it’s not in use.

He also said that EV and PHEV drivers should consider locking the charging cable to the vehicle when it’s being used, using a padlock.