Foreword

By Matt Uttley, Head of Renewable Energy, DeterTech

Copper and cable theft is a growing and pervasive threat, with significant consequences for critical national infrastructure. We’re witnessing increasingly brazen attacks on construction, rail, telecoms and increasingly, energy and utilities sites.

It doesn’t just cost the economy millions each year — it creates service disruption, downtime, output reduction, safety & reliability risks, and can have cascading effects on impacted communities.

The increase in copper and cable theft has been predominantly driven by the ongoing high price of copper, which, in early December 2025, reached as high as $11,705 per tonne. The result is a rise in the volume and sophistication of organised crime groups in this space.

To tackle this escalating challenge, we work closely with Network Rail, British Transport Police, energy operators across the country, and a wide range of industry partners, delivering proactive strategies to protect infrastructure, deter criminal activity, and minimise disruption.

Protecting a wide range of locations, from secluded solar and wind farms to long stretches of rail and busy construction sites. can be challenging. However, the deployment of proven deterrent-based solutions alongside sophisticated crime intelligence to keep on top of evolving threats helps to prevent copper and cable theft.

DeterTech’s crime intelligence analysts work closely with the UK police and hold a data sharing agreement with all 43 police departments across England and Wales. This allows us to detect high-target areas and warn critical sites in those areas of the threats. Sites that are attacked are often re-targeted in the following weeks, making it imperative for necessary measures to be taken by site security. We work closely with site security professionals to understand their specific challenges and to devise bespoke recommendations for each site.

By taking a proactive approach and combining advanced technology, actionable intelligence, and close collaboration with law enforcement and industry partners, we can stay one step ahead of organised criminals. This will ensure sites can significantly reduce risk and protect both assets and people. Our goal is to turn intelligence into action, ensuring that infrastructure across the UK remains secure and resilient against this growing threat and bring peace of mind to people and communities.

This guide is for anybody working to deter site trespassers and limit OCGs from targeting copper and cable from critical infrastructure. We hope it will inform and inspire your own crime prevention strategies.

Copper and Cable Theft in Numbers

• £480m – annual cost to the UK economy. (Source: ‘Tackling Metal Theft’, a report by the All-Parliamentary Group on metal, stone & heritage crime)
• $11,705 – price per tonne for copper in early December 2025 (Source: London Metal Exchange)
• £8 million – minimum estimated losses for renewable energy sites in 2025 from cable theft and associated downtime (Source: DeterTech)
• 43 – reported cable theft incidents on UK wind farms by November 2025 – up from a “typical” historical annual figure of just 5 (Source: DeterTech)
• £500,000/33– value of copper cable was stolen in a single attack in September 2025 (Source: DeterTech)
• 40% – energy output lost from a Preston solar farm following cable theft (Source: DeterTech)
• 3GW – solar energy currently protected by DeterTech (Source: DeterTech)
• 1,000 – miles of rail cable forensically marked with SmartWater (Source: DeterTech)
• 100% – conviction rate in contested court cases for DeterTech’s SmartWater® (Source: DeterTech)

Recommendations

1. Identify and Understand Risk

• Identify vulnerable access points – Address the most likely entry points for intrusion by both foot and vehicle. Targeted interventions at key access points will make a significant difference.

2. Strengthen and Review Site Security

• Conduct regular perimeter checks – Monitor for any fencing that has recently been damaged or cut. This is often a precursor to further intrusion and a sign that the location is on the radar of organised criminal gangs.
• Take advantage of site security reviews – DeterTech offers bespoke site security assessments free of charge to advise and quote on the most appropriate crime prevention solutions.
• Change the environment – Once targeted, sites are highly likely to be revisited within the same year. So, ensure there is a visible security upgrade at these premises. The PID360 is a proven solution that can be installed within 72 hours.

3. Communication and Deterrence

• Advertise security measures – Clearly communicate that advanced security measures are in place: the priority should be maximising their deterrent value. Warning signage and community awareness days are proven to be effective in reducing incidents.
• Leverage local eyes & ears – Communicate with staff and the local community about who to call if they suspect criminality on site. Instruct them not to directly challenge offenders, but to note details that could be of interest to security and the police.

4. Surveillance and Monitoring

• Prioritise redeployable CCTV – Depending on the scenario there’s a role for both overt and covert CCTV. For rapidly changing locations such as construction sites ensure site surveillance equipment can easily be relocated to where it is needed at most at every stage of the build.

5. Incident Reporting and Response

• Report all incidents – Promptly notify the police and DeterTech Crime Intelligence of incidents and thefts. It allows for the improved monitoring of the location and modus operandi of organised criminal gangs.
• Ensure a rapid response – Incident response times are critical in deterring intruders and limiting damage caused by theft or vandalism. Our Alarm Receiving Centre typically takes just 47 seconds to review, verify, and escalate an identified intrusion.

6. Asset Protection

• Use forensic marking – SmartWater has a 100% conviction rate in contested court cases. Mark and register assets and materials to ensure the best chance of their recovery if stolen.

Cable Theft – London to North-West Line, UK

A lack of traceable evidence linking cable thieves to their crimes made it difficult for the police to prosecute offenders. Criminals also became aware of this, exacerbating the problem.
Crime Intelligence first reviewed and analysed Network Rail’s crime data before making its recommendations. DeterTech then deployed covert cameras at key access points, marked cable in high-risk locations with SmartWater SmartTrace and placed deterrent warning signage along the rail line.

This has achieved an 89% reduction in cable theft incidents, prevented 660,000 minutes of delays and resulted in 170+ positive interventions.

Testimonials

“Cable theft is a serious offence and causes tremendous disruption to passengers and great cost to Network Rail. The work of DeterTech and British Transport Police is one of a number of important methods we are using to deal with cable theft.” Dyan Crowther, Route Managing Director, Network Rail

“Co-operation and a partnership approach was key to developing this solution, and from day one DeterTech has worked with ourselves and Network Rail to design a solution that benefits all parties, and we have been delighted with the outcome.” Danny Gent, Logistics Security Lead, Co-op