⚡🔌 EV Charging Cable Thefts - Help Protect Your Property 🔌⚡

⚡🔌 EV Charging Cable Thefts - Help Protect Your Property 🔌⚡

There has been a recent increase in electric vehicle (EV) charging cable thefts across Hemlington and other areas in Teesside. Thieves are targeting charging cables for the copper inside, leaving home chargers and public charging stations out of action. This can cause significant cost and disruption for owners, as well as create potential electrical safety hazards. ⚠️

🏠 Protecting Your Charging Cable at Home

✅ Unplug and store your cable securely when not charging. Keep it inside your home, garage, or a lockable outdoor cable box.

✅ Use a cable lock or a charger with a built-in locking mechanism where available.

✅ Park in a well-lit area and, if possible, position your vehicle so the charging cable is less visible from the street.

✅ Install or utilise CCTV or a doorbell camera to cover your driveway and charging point.

✅ Charge during the daytime or when someone is at home where practical, rather than leaving cables unattended overnight.

🚗 Using Public Charging Points

✅ Check charger status before travelling. Many apps provide live updates showing whether a charging point is operational or if cables have been removed.

⚠️ Never use a cable that appears cut, frayed, damaged, or tampered with. Treat it as an electrical hazard and keep clear.

✅ Neatly return tethered cables after use, helping to reduce opportunities for theft or damage.

✅ Report any damage immediately to the charge point operator so repairs can be arranged quickly and incidents can be recorded.

🔒 Additional Crime Prevention Tips

✅ Mark your cable with a unique identifier or forensic marking product where possible.

✅ Speak with neighbours and local EV owners. Many thefts take only a few minutes, so an extra set of eyes can make a real difference.

✅ Stay vigilant and report any suspicious behaviour around charging points or parked EVs.

📞 How to Report to Cleveland Police

🚨 Crime in progress or emergency? Call 999 immediately.

📱 Non-emergency reports, suspicious activity, information, or thefts that have already occurred: • Call 101 • Report online via the Cleveland Police website: cleveland.police.uk

🕵️ Anonymous information: • Contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 • Report online via crimestoppers-uk.org

🎥 If you have doorbell camera, CCTV, or dashcam footage, please share it with police. This evidence has already proved valuable in helping officers investigate incidents. If you have been given a reference number, please include it when making contact.

🔌⚡ Stay safe, keep charging cables secure, and help keep EV charging reliable for everyone.

#SaferTeesside #CrimePrevention #EVSafety #ClevelandPolice 🚔