Police are looking for the public’s help in their investigation into a daring theft from the Newfoundland Power substation in Hare Bay.

Police say the suspects broke into the fenced compound sometime between June 30 and July 1, stole an undisclosed amount of copper wire, and caused damage to the property.

Newfoundland Power says it is extremely concerned with a recent increase in similar incidents in the province.

There were three separate break-ins reported up to June 28 of this year, including the Glenwood substation, the Topsail Hydroelectric Generating Plant and the Boyd’s Cove substation in an attempt to steal copper grounding wire connected to the high voltage electricity grid.

Vice President of Customer Operations with Newfoundland Power says that type of activity causes a serious safety risk for Newfoundland Power employees, contractors, the general public and the vandals themselves.

“No one’s life is worth the risk,” says Sean LaCour. Employees are at risk when they enter the facilities to make repairs and the copper wire has very little value. He says in recent years the copper wire in many substations has been replaced with copper-clad steel, which has absolutely no scrap value.