In mid-February, around four kilometres of copper cable were stolen from the PV system at a former market garden. The property damage amounts to a six-figure sum.
Serious property damage occurred at a former market garden in the Lower Rhine region.
In mid-February, an unusual break-in occurred at a former market garden in the Lower Rhine region. The perpetrators forced their way into the rooms, but did not make any loot there. Rather, they had their sights set on the photovoltaic system mounted on the greenhouses and stole all the cabling between the inverters and PV modules. A total of around 4 kilometres of double-sheathed copper cable was stolen. The theft led to a complete failure of the 2.2-megawatt PV system. The property damage alone is in the 6-digit range, and the loss of earnings cannot yet be quantified, as the repair work is very labour- and time-intensive.
It is suspected that the perpetrators had tried in vain to switch off the main power supply. The break-in, as well as the cutting and transporting of the stolen cables, must have taken quite some time. The perpetrators obviously felt safe. Although the company premises and buildings were well secured, the perpetrators were able to operate undisturbed during the night. What could help against this?
Herbert Janßen, risk consultant at Gartenbau-Versicherung, advises alarm systems that scare off perpetrators with bright lights and acoustic signals. ‘You are never completely safe from break-ins, especially since horticultural businesses are often located outside residential areas and therefore relatively unmonitored. This makes insurance protection all the more important.’ In addition, Gartenbau-Versicherung is also happy to advise its member companies on protection against burglary and theft.
