According to the Ibaraki Prefecture Koga Police Station, from January to August 2021, there have been many wire theft damages targeting solar power generation facilities and construction sites in Koga City. A total of 61 incidents occurred, 80% of which were damage to solar power plants. The soaring price of copper and the ease with which it can be converted into cash are factors that make it an easy target.
The police are calling on business operators who manage solar power plants to install anti-theft devices that emit sound and light, as security cameras alone cannot protect them.