Incident Overview
A thief attempted to steal an electric vehicle (EV) charging cable from a home in Henderson, Nevada. The incident, which was captured on surveillance video, is part of a growing trend of such thefts nationwide.
Caught on Camera
In the early hours of the night, the homeowner’s security camera recorded a man with a shirt tied around his head to cover his face. He repeatedly tugged at the EV charging cable, which was connected to a car parked in the driveway and ran under a closed garage door. The suspect fled when one of the homeowners received an alert on her phone and went to check.
Homeowner’s Reaction
The homeowners were shocked by the attempted theft. They had no idea someone would want to steal their EV charging cable, which contains copper that can be sold for scrap. The incident has led them to change their charging habits, opting to charge their car during the day when they are awake.
Larger Problem
This incident is part of a larger problem being observed across the country. Thieves target EV charging cables for the copper inside, which can fetch $15 to $20 at scrap yards. Commercial charging stations are also frequent targets, as they often have more cables available to steal.
Nationwide Issue
In Oakland, California, vandals sliced through nearly a dozen charging cables, causing significant downtime for charging stations. In the Reno area, it took several weeks to repair cables at various charging stations, making it difficult for EV drivers to find charging locations.
Industry Response
Electrify America, which operates about 1,000 charging stations across the country, reported that as of May, 129 cables had been cut this year. The company has been addressing these issues but has not provided specific comments on the recent incidents in Nevada.
Local Law Enforcement
North Las Vegas Police and Henderson Metro Police have not reported significant issues with EV charging cable thefts within their jurisdictions over the past year.
Conclusion
The growing trend of EV charging cable thefts is becoming a significant issue for both private homeowners and commercial charging stations, prompting increased vigilance and changes in charging practices.
