Police in Repentigny and Hydro-Quebec are investigating the overnight theft of approximately 150 metres of copper wire from a transformer at the off-island suburb.
Original reports had the value of the stolen wire at $500,000, but a Hydro-Quebec spokesperson said those were greatly exaggerated.
"We can confirm there was an incident overnight and that 150 metres of wire was stolen," Danielle Chabot said. "But the value is only $2,000 or $3,000."
It appears the thief or thieves cut through a chain-link fence surrounding the station and cut the wire before making off with the loot, which in all likelihood is headed for the black market.
The wires were charged at the time they were cut, Chabot said.
"There was no interruption in service as a result of the incident," she said. "The only people who were at risk were the thieves."
Chabot said that all Hydro-Quebec stations are fenced and have regular patrols. It was one of those patrols that noticed the break-in at about 3 a.m. Friday morning, Repentigny police said.
