A 42-year-old London man is facing serious charges after allegedly pulling off a months-long copper theft operation right under everyone’s noses in the downtown core.
Brandon Paul Hill has been charged by London Police after investigators figured out he was behind multiple copper thefts that happened between November 2024 and March 2025. And honestly, the guy was pretty consistent – London Hydro kept reporting thefts from various downtown locations, and it turns out it was the same person every time.
The London Police Service Street Crime Unit took over the investigations and did what any good detective story would involve – they reviewed surveillance footage. Plot twist: the same suspect kept showing up on camera, basically creating his own little copper theft documentary series.
Now Hill is looking at some pretty hefty charges. We’re talking three counts of break, enter and theft, three counts of possession of break-in instruments, mischief under $5000, theft under $5000, and trafficking in property obtained by crime. That’s a lot of legal trouble for some copper wire.
He’s scheduled to appear in London court on July 8, 2025, and the investigations are still ongoing, which means there might be more to this story.
Detective Inspector Sean Travis from the London Police Service’s Investigative Services Branch made it clear that this isn’t just about one guy making some quick cash. “The London Police Service continues to work in partnership with London Hydro and the City of London to help stop copper thefts,” he said. “These types of thefts affect us all and by working together, we can help to prevent this type of crime and ensure a safer city for everyone.”
Orest Katolyk, Director of Municipal Compliance, wasn’t mincing words either: “We will continue to work collaboratively and proactively with the London Police Service in addressing the theft of copper as it is a significant public safety and property damage issue in London.”
London Hydro’s CEO Ysni Semsedini brought up the real kicker – this stuff is actually dangerous. “Ensuring safe and reliable hydro services is our top priority,” Semsedini explained. “Theft not only increases costs but more importantly, poses significant safety risks. We are dedicated to collaborating with London Police Services to prevent these activities and raise awareness.”
And that’s the thing about copper theft that makes it way more serious than your average shoplifting situation. When someone messes with electrical infrastructure, they’re not just stealing valuable metal – they’re potentially creating safety hazards and power outages that affect entire neighbourhoods.
This arrest comes after authorities had been warning Londoners about copper wire thefts happening throughout downtown areas. Back in March, London Police Service, London Hydro, and the City of London issued alerts asking residents to watch for suspicious activity like people tampering with electrical equipment at odd hours, unmarked vehicles parked near electrical installations, and individuals carrying wire cutters or other tools.
The signs they told people to watch for? Unauthorized individuals messing with electrical equipment during overnight or early morning hours, sketchy unmarked vehicles parked near electrical stuff, people carrying tools like wire cutters and crowbars, and electrical boxes or transformers with missing or damaged covers.
Basically, if you see someone who clearly isn’t from London Hydro climbing around electrical equipment at 3 AM, that’s probably not legitimate maintenance work.
Anyone with information about copper thefts can contact London Police Service at 519-661-5670 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). You can also submit tips online anonymously to London Middlesex Crime Stoppers.