Cash bid to catch power cut vandals
A CASH reward has been offered in return for information on those responsible for leaving 1000 Glasgow homes without power.
Vandals torched an electrical substation in Napier Street, Govan last Monday, endangering the lives of those living nearby.
Scottish Power has put up a £3000 reward for information.
A FOUR-FIGURE reward is up for grabs after a group of vandals targeted an electrical substation in the south of Glasgow.
ScottishPower is offering £3000 for information which could lead to tracing the culprits of the incident.
As reported in the Evening Times, vandals destroyed a distribution box on the site in Govan. It was set on fire and led to 1000 homes left with power cuts last Monday.
Police are investigating the incident which happened at around 6.30pm at Napier Drive.
Engineers managed to reconnect the homes within a few hours on the night by switching supplies on to another part of the electricity network.
The distribution box was completely destroyed by the fire, with Scottish Power boss David Guthrie saying it “beggars belief” how the group could put other people’s lives at such risk.
Mr Guthrie, the energy networks district manager for the Glasgow area, said: “This is not a victimless crime and there is a serious threat to the public as a result.
“Illegal tampering with anything that links to the electricity network can be extremely dangerous and whoever was behind this vandalism clearly doesn’t care about the consequences.
“The location of the fire on Napier Drive is in a residential area and close to a number of homes.
“It beggars belief that anyone could risk the lives of local people in this way. We will work closely with the police to help catch those responsible, but we would also encourage anyone who has any information on those responsible to come forward.”
Inspector Kevin Lammie, from safer communities with Greater Glasgow Police, said: “Setting a deliberate fire anywhere is reckless, but to set fire to a substation which powers people’s homes is irresponsible, selfish and could have seriously affected for example people who are sick or vulnerable in the area.
“This fire was also near homes and could have spread, thankfully in this case it didn’t, however the potential consequences could have been very different if it was not for the quick work of the emergency services. Our inquiries are continuing and if anyone has information that will assist officers trace those responsible, please contact Govan Police Station via 101 quoting reference 3498/26/06.”