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A sophisticated network of metal thieves has targeted some 20 French wind turbines in a new looting trend, scaling the near 40-metre-high structures and stealing up to one tonne of metal from a single engine, Le Figaro reported Wednesday.Citing an anonymous police source, the daily newspaper said the ring stole metal from wind farms in sparsely populated areas, where they had less chance of being caught.
"They cut the power to turn off the engine propeller motor," the officer said, noting the thieves broke through the doors at the bottom of the turbines, before using the stairs to reach the engine which is located at the top -- often as high as 40 metres off the ground. "By using bolt cutters and makeshift tools they then cut and ripped out the whole metal wiring, which is mostly made of copper," he said.
The officer said a metal raid of a single wind turbine engine could amount to as much as one ton of loot. One ton of copper is estimated to be worth around 4,500 euros on the market.