Are solar panels causing a spate of theft in the UK?

This specific spate of theft has been triggered by soaring values – particularly in relation to metals and machinery – and the low supply of farm machinery worldwide. And alongside machinery, recent figures from the UK police suggest criminals have set their sights on another lucrative opportunity – solar panels.

Are solar panels stolen?

By way of example, in August, solar panels worth approximately £10 500 were stolen from an energy farm in Northamptonshire. Solar panel theft is not limited to large scale and commercial solar farms either – homes in remote areas are also vulnerable, with thieves reportedly swiping panels from people’s roofs. Why?

Is there a rise in solar crime in the UK?

Police in the UK observed a 93% rise in reports of solar-related crimes from 2021 to 2022. That figure – reported by Detective Superintendent James Taylor, head of UK serious organized acquisitive crime unit Opal – included a rise in small-scale thefts of solar panels as rising energy bills and the cost-of-living crisis bite.

Is there a rise in solar crime in 2021 & 2022?

Taylor, presenting at a Solar Crime Open Day event organized by site security company DeterTech and London-based asset manager Schroders, reported a 48% rise in cabling and solar panel theft from solar sites between 2021 and 2022.

How much does a solar theft cost?

Strecke says European solar thefts typically cause €60,000 ($63,900) of damage, when repairs and loss of business are factored in. “Solar crime is on the increase,” says Rachael Oakley, director of crime intelligence at Telford-based DeterTech, formally known as SmartWater Group thanks to its product-marking technology.

Are criminals observing solar farms?

Criminals are starting to observe solar farms and they know there’s copper in the cabling, and solar panels there.” Copper hit a record GBP 7,500 per ton in February, according to Richie Iwanoff, head of telecommunications company British Telecom’s acquisitive crime team.