Two Arrests After Large Quantities of Wiring Found in Van

Police believe that it was taken from KFC in Ealing Broadway

The cabling recovered by police on Grosvenor Road. Picture: Met Police

Police in Ealing have thanked residents for their quick actions after officers arrested two men on suspicion of stealing wiring during a burglary in Ealing Broadway. The arrests come at a time when metal theft, particularly the theft of copper wiring, has been increasing across.

The incident took place on Friday 10 April, when officers located a van believed to have been involved in the theft of electrical wiring from a KFC restaurant in Ealing Broadway. After stopping the vehicle, police detained both the driver and the passenger on Grosvenor Road, W7. A search of the van revealed a large quantity of cables and wiring suspected to be stolen, along with £1,625 in cash and a number of receipts from scrap-metal dealers. Both men were arrested at the scene.

Officers said the arrests were made possible thanks to residents who called 999 promptly. They noted that swift reporting allowed them to identify and stop the suspects before they could leave the area. Police added that this kind of proactive response helps protect neighbourhoods and disrupts offenders who often move quickly between boroughs.

The theft of wiring has become increasingly common in London, largely because copper and other metals have risen sharply in value on the global market. Stolen wiring can be stripped and sold for cash within hours, and once the insulation is removed, the metal is almost impossible to trace. Restaurants, commercial premises, building sites and service yards are frequent targets because they often store wiring in accessible areas or have external plant rooms that can be broken into at night.

Copper prices have risen particularly sharply over the last few months due to a mudslide at a massive mine in Indonesia and rising demand for cabling due to the growth in data centres fuelled by AI.

West London has seen a particular rise in metal-related crime over the past two years. Metropolitan Police data shows that boroughs such as Ealing, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham have experienced repeated incidents involving stolen cabling, catalytic converters and lead roofing. In Ealing alone, police have responded to numerous reports of wiring theft from commercial premises, infrastructure sites and even residential developments. Officers believe that some of these offences are linked to organised groups who travel across the capital looking for high-value metal that can be sold quickly for profit.

The consequences of wiring theft can be significant. Businesses may face costly repairs, electrical outages and safety risks, while infrastructure theft can disrupt transport, communications and essential services.