Have you ever pulled up to an EV charging station only to find that there are no cables left? No, we don’t mean all the spots are taken, we mean there are physically no cables—they’ve been cut off. Missing cables likely mean that the station has been a victim of theft, an occurrence that unfortunately appears to be happening more and more often.

 

Cable Cutters

Thieves target EV charging stations to steal the cables themselves, which contain copper wiring.

While copper theft isn’t new, targeting EV infrastructure is a relatively new development, with early indications that incidents are on the rise in tandem with adoption. Replacing these stolen cables is costing property owners, fleets, and drivers more than just the price of inconvenience.

 

The Good News

The good news? Solutions exist, and Signature Electric is responding. From reinforced cable management to tamper-resistant enclosures to strategic site design, there are several solutions available to ensure that your infrastructure remains protected and functional.

 

Reinforced Cables

One of the quickest, easiest, and most effective ways to protect your cables is to reinforce them. With this solution, the charging cable is wrapped in a series of flexible steel cables, then bound with heat-shrink tubing. The cables remain flexible and just as usable, but far more durable and resistant to tampering. 

See the wire protectors in action with this short installation video.

 

Smart Surveillance and Monitoring

A simple surveillance camera may be enough to deter thieves. For those who want something more integrated, our friends at SWTCH, a Toronto-based provider of EV charging solutions, have introduced a suite of anti-theft and vandalism solutions to help safeguard your EV infrastructure.

SWTCH’s solutions combine 24/7 intelligent surveillance with hardware-based deterrents, including smart sensors that can escalate if threats are detected. Operating as a virtual security guard, these compact pole- or wall-mounted units provide protection without major infrastructure upgrades.

 

GPS Cable tracking

Other companies, like Trackit247, offer GPS tracking services to deter theft and cable cutting. Custom trackers are retrofitted onto existing cables, with a web-based platform in place to track them in case of theft. Early trials in high-risk locations have proved very effective in stopping incidents of theft.

 

The Right Partner Matters

With several unique solutions available, it’s one of the many reasons why selecting the right installation partner matters.

At Signature Electric, we do more than install chargers. We bring years of field experience that help us anticipate problems like this before they happen.

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