Hunt for Hong Kong copper thieves after lightning rod wire stolen from station

Hong Kong police are investigating the theft of copper wire worth about HK$100,000 (US$12,820) from a rooftop lightning rod at Po Lam MTR station in Tseung Kwan O.

Officers were dispatched to the station on Mau Yip Road after receiving a report at 3.46pm on Thursday from an employee with rail operator the MTR Corporation that copper wire from a lightning rod was missing.

After a preliminary investigation, police said they believed that wire valued at about HK$100,000 was stolen.

The case has been classified as theft and is being handled by the police force’s Tseung Kwan O district criminal investigation unit. No arrests have been made.

Copper wire in a lightning rod system acts as a conductor. The wire creates a low-resistance path, allowing the electrical charge from a lightning strike to travel safely to the ground. This process dissipates the energy and prevents damage to the structure.

The Post has contacted the MTR Corp for comment.