Over the last year, NIE, the electricity network company, has seen around one incident per week where metal thieves or vandals have damaged electricity equipment.

To combat this growing issue, the company has teamed up with Crimestoppers and other utility companies to raise awareness in local communities of the safety risks and community impact of this crime.

Roy Coulter, Director of Health, Safety and Risk at NIE, said: "In the last twelve months we have seen increasing incidents of metal theft in our electricity substations and depots across Northern Ireland. These have had direct impacts on local communities when vandals have caused power cuts and left equipment in dangerous states.

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"We are encouraging anyone who sees thieves or vandals tampering with electricity equipment to report it to NIE on 08457 643643 or to Crimestoppers.

"In some cases these incidents involved vandals breaking into electricity substations which are full of live equipment running at extremely high voltage. Live electricity equipment is unforgiving and extremely dangerous. These vandals were lucky that they made it out alive."

(CD/GK)