With the rising cost of living putting a strain on household finances, car parts, and everyday essentials have morphed into tempting targets for criminal activity. This escalating trend is exemplified by the recent surge in charging cable thefts from electric vehicle charging stations.
In a shocking display of opportunity making the thief, over 130 cords were stolen in just the first five months of this year, eclipsing the total number stolen throughout all of 2023. This newfound vulnerability highlights a broader issue criminals are adept at adapting their methods to exploit weaknesses in security systems and maximize their profits.
The crime wave extends far beyond charging cables. Car thefts have seen a dramatic rise as criminals exploit loopholes in keyless entry systems, bypassing traditional security measures. This ease of access has emboldened thieves to target not just parked vehicles, but dealerships and even factories, demonstrating a willingness to go to extreme lengths to steal valuable property. Even seemingly mundane items haven’t been spared.
When gas prices skyrocketed in 2022, a surge in gas tank drilling and gas station software manipulation attempts revealed a disturbing willingness to steal even the most common necessities. The message is clear: if the price goes up, it’s likely to end up on some criminal’s shopping list, highlighting the unfortunate reality that desperate times can breed desperate measures.
This escalating theft problem underscores the urgent need for improved security measures and a multi-pronged approach to address the root causes of crime. While the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) has brought concerns about charging infrastructure, EV owners initially felt secure from a different kind of theft stolen gas tanks or catalytic converters, common plagues for combustion vehicles.
However, this sense of security was shattered by a new target: EV charging cables. This criminal activity began at public stations, particularly Tesla’s extensive Supercharger network, but soon escalated to personal wall chargers at homes. The ease of stealing these cables, especially the thinner ones found on wall chargers, due to the desperation of thieves, shocked communities.
While severing a charging cable might seem like a minor offense, it disrupts a crucial resource for EV owners, especially during road trips where finding a vandalized station in the middle of the night can be a major inconvenience. Public charging stations are crucial for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles, especially for those who can’t charge at home.
Disappointingly, non-functional chargers are a constant issue for EV drivers, except for Tesla owners who benefit from Tesla’s swift response to cable thefts at their Supercharger stations. This creates a bigger problem for everyone else.
With fewer charging stations available, losing even a few due to theft significantly impacts non-Tesla EV road trips. The situation escalated when thieves targeted third-party stations, particularly Electrify America, likely because their thicker cables with more copper promised a higher scrap value.
