HURRICANE – Hurricane Police are noting an increased amount of thefts involving utility infrastructure within the city, including underground utility lines that still have electricity flowing through them when they are cut and stolen.
Thieves who cut through live wires raise the risk of personal harm or even death by electrocution. Such a crime may also cause damage or utility problems to affected personal property.
The Hurricane Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying any suspects or suspicious activity in or around any city utility box, vault, transformer or underground utility equipment.
“We would like to stop this criminal behavior and hope it does stop before the suspects or someone else is hurt,” said Nancy Perkins, public information officer for the Hurricane Police Department.
The public is encouraged to be aware of the typical work hours of those authorized to work on city utilities and to immediately report anyone they see working around a city utility that is not identifiable with a company uniform and vehicle or equipment.
Anyone who sees something out of the ordinary or suspicious is asked to report it to Police Dispatch at 435-627-4999.
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