Transformer vandalism causes power outage, $3K in damages

SISSONVILLE, W.Va. (WSAZ) – Kanawha County Sheriff’s deputies are investigating costly vandalism at an AEP power site.

On Feb. 11, deputies responded to Sissonville following reports of a power outage on Derricks Creek Road caused by criminal damage to a transformer.

Around 1:45 p.m., Appalachian Power received the outage report.

AEP workers discovered that a transformer had been severely damaged.

Investigators at the scene found burglary tools and clear evidence that a person had scaled the pole and attempted to remove the transformer by unbolting it.

Sgt. Joshua Lester with the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office said, “The components that are in those transformer boxes is what they are after and they are valuable. So this incident alone even though the transformer box wasn’t completely removed from the pole, it looked like there were some problems that they ran into while they were trying to remove the pole.”

According to the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, workers that followed the lines from the transformer uncovered about 632 feet of wire dangling from an adjacent pole.

Investigators believe the disrupted transformer caused the lines to touch, generating a spark that burned and split the wires.

This single act of vandalism has resulted in an estimated $3,000 in damage, Kanawha County deputies say.

AEP has noted that similar criminal activities have been under investigation in Jackson County, West Virginia, and there is growing concern that such thefts are beginning to target Kanawha County locations.

If you have any information regarding the incident on Derricks Creek Road, please contact Deputy W.E. Ingram at 304-357-0169. The community is urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity near utility poles, power stations, or adjacent properties.

Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest information.