Security specialists across the United Kingdom are raising the alarm over a brazen new wave of criminal activity, where organised gangs are meticulously posing as legitimate contractors to gain access to critical infrastructure. Their target: the valuable copper cables running beneath our streets and railways.
A Growing Epidemic of Disguised Theft
This sophisticated tactic allows criminals to operate in plain sight, donning high-visibility jackets and using vans to blend seamlessly into urban and rural landscapes. The objective is to access manholes and roadside cabinets to strip out copper cabling, a crime driven by soaring global metal prices. The financial rewards are substantial, with experts estimating that a single night's work can net a criminal gang as much as £10,000.
Recent Incidents Highlight the Scale
Just last week, a man was filmed emerging from a manhole mere yards from a police station in central Birmingham, allegedly caught targeting broadband equipment. This incident is not isolated. It forms part of a significant surge in cable thefts that has plunged entire villages into internet blackouts and caused major disruptions to rail services nationwide.
According to a 2024 parliamentary report, metal theft costs the UK economy a staggering £500 million annually, with up to 60 criminal gangs involved in this lucrative illicit trade. The railways are particularly vulnerable, with an estimated 50 days' worth of delays in 2022 directly attributed to cable theft.
The Criminal Playbook: Deception and Disruption
The modus operandi is disturbingly effective. Gangs arrive equipped with fake IDs, professional-looking vehicles, and even bogus roadwork signs to create a convincing facade of legitimate activity. Once access is gained, they cut and winch out cables running for miles underground, selling the metal to unscrupulous scrap dealers. The aftermath leaves thousands of homes, businesses, and essential services disconnected.
Ryan Powell, Group Managing Director of security firm First Response Group, emphasised the shift in this criminal enterprise. "Cable theft is no longer an opportunistic crime," he stated. "It has become increasingly organised, driven by rising copper prices and carried out by gangs who often pose as legitimate contractors using vans, high-visibility clothing and fake IDs to operate in plain sight."Case Studies: From Villages to Vacant Offices
The impact is felt from rural communities to city centres. A village in Lincolnshire recently saw 2,500 homes and businesses lose phone and internet services after a targeted theft. In rural Cambridgeshire, the Openreach network was hit eight times in just one month during 2023.
Vacant commercial properties have also become prime targets. In a high-profile case, Romanian burglar Alexandru Parole was jailed in January 2025 for stealing over £2 million worth of copper wiring from the empty Reading headquarters of Chinese tech giant Huawei.
Beyond Broadband: EV Chargers and Cannabis Farms
The criminal networks are diversifying their targets. There have been more than 400 incidents of thieves targeting electric vehicle charging points since 2023, threatening the infrastructure supporting Net Zero goals. Furthermore, these tactics are not limited to metal theft. The Daily Mail previously revealed how criminals disguised as roadworkers were actually stealing electricity to power Albanian-run cannabis farms, producing £21 million of illicit drugs.
Law Enforcement and Judicial Responses
Police forces are actively warning the public to be vigilant for thieves "masquerading as legitimate contractors" or conducting "bogus roadworks." Successful prosecutions have led to significant jail sentences. In 2024, a gang that used 4x4s with false plates to steal BT Openreach cables across several counties was jailed for a total of 14 years. When police raided a property linked to the gang, they found over £50,000 in bundled cash.
In another case, a Virgin Media engineer's suspicion led to the arrest of a individual found with a "dressing up box" of workman's clothing and a roadworks sign in his van. He was later jailed for 10 months.
Expert Analysis and Future Fears
Robin Edwards, a former senior officer at British Transport Police and co-founder of the National Infrastructure Crime Reduction Partnership, estimates that around 80% of cable theft is linked to organised crime. "Dressing to blend in is certainly a tactic used by cable theft gangs," he confirmed. "Many people feel that someone dressed in high visibility clothing is allowed to go wherever they want."
The low risk and high reward nature of these crimes is a major concern. Once stolen cables are sold to unscrupulous dealers, they become virtually untraceable. Experts fear that if commodity prices continue to rise, thefts will increase and expand into new sectors like renewable energy, targeting wind and solar farms.
Mr Powell added a stark warning: "The problem is getting worse because organised crime groups see it as low risk with high rewards, while the consequences rarely match the disruption caused. The impact goes beyond replacement costs, creating serious safety risks and reputational damage, and no infrastructure is off limits."
Industry and Police Collaboration
An Openreach spokesperson condemned the acts, stating: "Cable theft is a serious criminal act that causes significant disruption to everyday life... We take these incidents extremely seriously." The company highlighted its 24/7 network monitoring and close collaboration with police to identify perpetrators and prevent further attacks.
The call from security experts is for a more proactive, intelligence-led approach, with better information sharing between industry and law enforcement to secure prosecutions and protect the nation's critical infrastructure from this insidious and damaging crime wave.
In the latest development following the Birmingham incident, three men - Marian Agarlita, 37, Sorin Condrache, 45, and Aldafin Poenaru, 48 - have been charged with stealing Openreach cables valued at around £50,000 and remanded in custody ahead of a court hearing next month.
