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SUDBURY, ON, Aug. 12, 2011 /CNW/ - Hydro One is urging Ontario residents to call Crime Stoppers to report suspected copper theft from its stations and facilities in an attempt to fight a rise of incidents along the Highway 17 corridor that is causing serious safety concerns. Break-ins to three Sudbury-area distribution stations were reported to police this week.

"Copper thieves risk serious or fatal injury, and put employees, first responders and the public at risk," said Myles D'Arcey, Hydro One Senior Vice President of Operations. "Stealing the copper fittings that ground high-voltage equipment is extremely dangerous, and that danger extends to our crews who have to be very careful as they make repairs in stations where copper theft has occurred, and equipment is no longer properly grounded."

Copper wire theft continues to increase in North America, and Hydro One has been the target of a growing number of thefts in recent months, from an average of 10 per month six months ago to 16 per month this summer. Hydro One continues to welcome the assistance of police and scrap dealers' associations in targeting thieves, and to also encourage the assistance of members of the public who can report suspected copper theft by calling Crime Stoppers anonymously.

To report a suspected theft anonymously, Sudbury residents can call the province-wide Crime Stoppers information number, 1-800-222-TIPS.

Hydro One first partnered with Crime Stoppers in 2007, and this program continues to be an important link in the fight against copper theft. Hydro One also works with the Ontario Provincial Police and the Sudbury police, as well as scrap dealers' associations to help police and businesses identify and report stolen copper.

Hydro One delivers electricity safely, reliably and responsibly to homes and businesses across the province of Ontario and owns and operates Ontario's 29,000 km high-voltage transmission network that delivers electricity to large industrial customers and municipal utilities, and a 123,000 km low-voltage distribution system that serves about 1.3 million end-use customers and smaller municipal utilities in the province. Hydro One is wholly owned by the Province of Ontario.