Theft shock: Eight charging cables disappeared from e-charging stations in Bad Salzdetfurth!

Theft shock: Eight charging cables disappeared from e-charging stations in Bad Salzdetfurth!

On Wednesday night there was a brazen theft of charging cables in Bad Salzdetfurth, which made the local e-mobility community sit up and take notice. In the early morning hours between 2:45 a.m. and 3:20 a.m., unknown perpetrators cut a total of eight charging cables from four e-charging stations at two different REWE parking lots, one on Bodenburger Straße and one on Ahnepaule. The police assume that the thieves wanted to steal the cables because of the copper they contained in order to sell them for a profit. Specific damage amounts have not yet been determined, but based on experience from other regions, repair costs can be exorbitantly high - up to 7,000 euros per case is not unusual.

The police are now looking for witnesses, especially a cyclist, who may have observed something. Other people who noticed something unusual at the time of the crime are also asked to come forward. Anyone with current information can contact the Bad Salzdetfurth police on 05063-9010.

Increasing theft rates

The incidents in Bad Salzdetfurth are not an isolated case. Over 40 charging cable thefts were registered in Leipzig and the surrounding area in spring and summer 2024, and the problems affect numerous providers such as Tesla or EWE Go. Over 40 crimes occurred at fast charging stations, where cables were often stolen by cutting them off. The estimated selling price of a cable is around 50 euros, which makes the theft lucrative for criminals. Electric car drivers are increasingly unsettled as the repair of the charging stations often takes several weeks, which not only leads to frustration but also to loss of sales for the operators.

As [auto-motor-und-sport] reports, innovative measures are required. Providers are increasingly relying on security precautions such as trackers and cameras to catch them. A provider in Leipzig has already integrated trackers into the charging cables, which ultimately led to the arrest of suspects. In addition, EnBW is equipping affected locations with additional lighting and video surveillance. These efforts are urgently needed because the theft problem extends far beyond the city limits and also includes other federal states.

International trends and reactions

The series of thefts is not just a German phenomenon. Internationally, charging providers are also faced with an increase in theft. In the USA, for example, Electrify America reported 93 stolen charging cables last year. These global trends highlight the importance of developing effective surveillance and security solutions. Providers in Great Britain are working on alarm systems that immediately sound the alarm in the event of manipulation, while in Germany providers such as EWE Go are trying to increase security standards in close cooperation with the police.

The need to better protect charging cables and e-charging stations remains crucial in order not to endanger e-mobility. The increasing number of thefts is an alarm signal that improvements need to be made in many areas. Only through careful planning and high-quality security measures can the electric vehicle boom be maintained while ensuring the safety of the charging infrastructure.

The current incidents in Bad Salzdetfurth clearly show that there is still a lot to be done to offer our society safe and sustainable e-mobility that gains the trust of users.