Electric vehicle charging stations across Europe are increasingly being targeted by organized criminal gangs seeking to steal copper cables. Rather than using basic hand tools, perpetrators are reportedly arriving in stolen vehicles, wearing masks, and utilizing high-powered cutting equipment to strike multiple locations in a single night. UK-based operator InstaVolt reported the loss of approximately 260 cables from 130 chargers in 2025, while German operator EnBW has faced damages exceeding 1 million euros across 120 locations since early 2025. Additionally, roughly 10 percent of the French national network has been affected, and thieves in Spain have stolen 34 kilometers of copper cabling.
To combat the escalating severity of these attacks, companies are deploying new security solutions. Formula Space has developed a protective sleeve designed to make cables harder and slower to cut, thereby increasing the effort required and the risk of detection. The latest version aims to reduce the effectiveness of power tools like angle grinders and can be retrofitted to existing chargers in roughly 20 minutes. These physical barriers are also being supported by GPS tracking and forensic marking systems to help trace stolen equipment.
According to reports, criminals strip, chop, and sometimes melt the stolen copper into ingots to remove identifying marks before mixing it with legitimate scrap for cross-border sales. Quiet, poorly lit charging sites lacking monitored surveillance remain the most vulnerable targets. Beyond the financial impact of replacing cables, the ongoing thefts leave charging bays out of service, which could potentially undermine public confidence in the expanding electric vehicle infrastructure.