Hurricane police say thefts involving utility infrastructure within the city are rising, including underground lines that still have electricity flowing through them when they are cut and stolen.

Thieves who cut through live wires risk injury or death by electrocution.

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The Hurricane Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying suspicious activity or people in or around any city utility box, vault, transformer or underground utility equipment.

"We would like to stop this criminal behavior and hope it does stop before the suspects or someone else is hurt," said Nancy Perkins, a spokeswoman for the Hurricane Police Department.

Dave Imlay, director of Hurricane Power, said thieves want the copper wire used to ground power systems in street-level conduit boxes. Copper wire theft is a constant worry because it currently sells for around $2.50 a pound.

"There’s a huge demand for it," he said.

Imlay said in the past two months there have been three incidents in which locks were cut on utility boxes, with thieves making off with up to 30 pounds of wire each time.

David Eskelsen, a spokesman for Rocky Mountain Power, said thieves sell their stolen copper wire through recycling agencies or pawn shops.

"We urge people not to [steal wire] because they could be hurt or killed," he said.

Eskelsen said removal of the wiring is unlikely to cause interruption in services because of backup measures.

Residents of Hurricane are encouraged to be aware of utility work, and whether workers are wearing uniforms and driving authorized vehicles. Citizens who see anything suspicious are encouraged to call police at 435-627-4999.