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Omexom oversee upgrades to electricity distribution substations across the North East of England. Many substations are in densely populated areas, surrounded by housing, or in busy city centres. They were at high risk of copper theft, and thieves were in turn at risk of injury or even death attempting to cut live cables. During upgrade works, the risks were further heightened, with open trenches, high-voltage infrastructure and valuable equipment exposed.
Human guarding wasn’t viable; they could be threatened or forced to open compounds, and their safety put at risk. When incidents occurred, it meant police involvement, hours of paperwork, project delays and potential insurance implications. Omexom and its client Northern Power Grid needed a solution to deter intruders and minimise disruption, without anyone in danger.
DeterTech carried out in-depth site surveys, including of containers and active work areas with open trenches, before designing the appropriate solution. For most sites, Portable Intrusion Detection units (PIDs) could provide optimum coverage of the compounds. These battery-powered units enabled flexible placement and acted as a strong visual deterrent, reinforced by prominent signage around the perimeter. One particularly challenging site required additional protection. Located near pubs and subject to persistent anti-social behaviour, the site also received a DTSentinel CCTV tower. Its enhanced zoom capability revealed exactly where and how intruders were accessing the compound, so that further intrusions could be prevented.
The results have been decisive. There hasn’t been a substation break-in at a DeterTech-protected site in ten years – the highly visible cameras and signage deter opportunistic intruders. The system delivers peace of mind while avoiding direct confrontation with potentially dangerous individuals. Alerts allow monitoring teams to assess incidents remotely and respond appropriately, saving time otherwise lost to police reports, delays and insurance claims.
