A farmer from Epping Forest and his female companion have been caught trying to steal copper from a Tasnetworks substation in Launceston.
Thomas Edward Fish, 32, and Abigail Ann Kennedy, 31, both pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the incident on November 16, 2024, as reported by The Examiner.
The court heard that Fish and Kennedy entered the substation at Riverside through a hole in the fence at 3:30am, attempting to steal copper wire using a winch attached to a light post.
Police arrived at the scene and found the winch with copper wire attached, before finding Fish and Kennedy in a grassed area.
Kennedy was found with two copper fittings worth around $50 in her jacket pocket.
The newspaper reported Fish admitted to the court that the vehicle used in the attempted theft belonged to his father.
Magistrate Simon Brown noted the ‘sophistication’ of Fish’s actions, which involved the use of a winch to steal around $200 worth of copper wire, saying there was potential for even greater loss if police had not intervened.
He sentenced Fish to a 12-month community correction order and 84 hours of community service, while Kennedy was fined $400.
