Car charging cable theft on the rise. Is your electric vehicle safe from the metal thieves?
With the
With this metal theft on the increase, a trusted waste disposal company asks: Can you leave your expensive new car to charge outside without someone making off with the cable?
Rubbish removal company Divert.co.uk say that you shouldn't leave your electric charging cable outside your home, as scrap metal thieves have labelled them as must-have items.
"Car chargers are particularly appealing to thieves because they can be sold for up to £200 and they are selling them everywhere, eBay,
Easy money for organised thieves
Unfortunately, metal theft is nothing new - and it seems that every new technological development brings with it a new type of crime.
While we are used to the copper in telephone cables and lead from church roofs being targeted by organised thieves, the metal in electric car chargers is becoming increasingly sought after by thieves looking to make quick money.
"With more people going green and choosing electric cars over petrol and diesel, there are more charging cables available for thieves to target," says Divert.co.uk spokesman
At the start of 2021, there are over 300,000 electric and hybrid vehicles on the road in the
Although many electric vehicles have systems in place that lock the charger into position, allowing the owners to leave the car charging securely overnight or while they are shopping, these security measures aren't always fool-proof.
Hall: "This just goes to show that even the top-of-the-range models are still having teething problems with chargers, leaving them vulnerable to being stolen.
"And at £200 a pop, running off with a cable is easy money for any thief looking to strike it rich."
What can you do to protect your electric car charger?
Charger cables are an expensive but essential accessory to replace and could cost you a small fortune if goes missing - so it's in your best interest to prevent it from being taken by thieves.
If you're concerned that your car charger could be stolen, Divert.co.uk spokesman
The simplest solution is to padlock the cable to your vehicle while charging it at home or out and about, similarly to how you would secure a bike with a bike lock.
Hall: "You should try and keep the charger locked when it's not in use too, or even better would be to bring it inside and hide it in your garage."
Speaking of which, another possibility, if you are charging your vehicle at home, is to powerup from while parked up inside your garage, out of sight from potential crooks.
But if you don't have the option to charge inside, it's best to park with the charging point nearest to your house, to keep the cable discreet to potential thieves driving by.
Hall: "Most charging cables available for public use are tethered to try and prevent people from making off with them, and you can purchase similar devices to be used at home.
"Because if it's not bolted down or locked away - someone will try to pinch it."
NOTES FOR EDITORS
Spokesperson
Divert.co.uk is a fully licensed on-demand waste removal and disposal service for households and businesses.
Our computer algorithm calculates the best price for all of our customers, making sure you never pay too much to have your rubbish taken away.
Divert.co.uk's aim is to send as little as possible to landfill, and we work with local charities and recycling agencies to give items a second lease of life.
Website: https://www.divert.co.uk/
* Ban on new petrol and diesel cars in
** The road to electric - the
*** Analysis: 2020 UK car sales hit 28-year low, EV market grows rapidly | Autocar
**** Thieves are stealing
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