And finally, thieves in North Carolina are taking grid mod into their own hands. (News & Observer)
Police arrested a couple for stripping wiring from 60 different utility poles, while thieves in neighboring county managed to vanish with a pole-mounted transformer (which weighs hundreds of pounds) in the middle of the night.
Authorities note this isn't just petty theft: Scaling 30-to-60-ft. poles to dismantle heavy electrical gear is a “feat” that risks electrocution at every turn.
The motive: It’s an old story with a new surge—as copper prices climb, criminals are increasingly targeting the grid’s guts for quick cash.