Thieves target electric car chargers in Hungerford

THERE has been a spate of thefts of electric car chargers on a Hungerford estate.

The warning was made at a meeting of Hungerford Town Council's highways and transport committee on Mondayt, March 27.

Town councillor Alistair Fyfe said he had learned of a spate of such thefts from residents at the town's new Lancaster Park development.

The scrap value for the copper alone in the cable can reportedly be sold by thieves for around £50.

Alternatively thieves can sell the cable on the second hand market for up to £200.

But those electric vehicle owners targeted could find themselves paying up to £700 for a new, replacement charger.

The cables are sometimes stolen from the vehicle's boot, but can also be removed at a charging point if the car is left unattended.

Mr Fyfe told the meeting that up to 15 chargers have been stolen from Lancaster Park alone.

He said: "Some have been stolen from garages and some from unoccupied premises.

"Four or five were stolen from one particularly dark area and one or two residents weren't happy about it being so dark.

"Perhaps [developer] Bewley Homes can look at lighting; they all pay a service charge to a management company to look after the grounds."

Town mayor Helen Simpson said she had also been made aware of the issue and had raised it with the local neighbourhood police team.

She added: "We need to make people aware that it's happening."

Motorist organisations recommend installing CCTV where possible to deter thieves from stealing electric vehicle chargers from homes.