Man charged after alleged copper theft at Grafton substation
Tuesday 29 September 2026 · 2 outlets · 2 reports · updated In this story Auckland City CIB
A 42-year-old man faces charges after allegedly posing as a worker to steal copper from a Vector substation in Grafton. The incident on Saturday, 26 September, caused significant damage and resulted in repair costs for nearby dwellings. The man is due to appear in court.
Key facts
4 facts
- A 42-year-old man faces burglary and intentional damage charges
- The incident occurred on Saturday, 26 September, at a substation on Madeira Lane, Grafton
- Damage includes tens of thousands of dollars in electrical repairs and damage to a 1905 pipe organ
- The man is due in Auckland District Court on 12 October
The full story
1 min read · 2 outlets
A 42-year-old man has been charged with burglary and intentional damage following an alleged copper theft at a Vector-owned substation in Grafton. The incident occurred on the morning of Saturday, 26 September, at a facility on Madeira Lane. The man allegedly used high-visibility clothing and a hard hat as a disguise while carrying a plastic rubbish bin.
The theft caused tens of thousands of dollars in damage and resulted in power outages and surges. Residents at a nearby apartment complex reported flickering lights and appliances behaving erratically, with one resident stating the surge "blew or wrecked most of the power meters for each apartment".
The electrical damage also affected the neighbouring Kāhui St David’s charitable trust. Director Paul Baragwanath said the incident damaged electrical, AV, and lighting systems, as well as a 1905 pipe organ. This follows a similar theft at the same site approximately 12 months ago.
The accused man was summonsed to appear in the Auckland District Court on 12 October. Police conducted a raid on a property in Manurewa on Friday night and identified a person of interest.
How it developed
- Tue 29 Sep, 2:00pmPolice raided a property in Manurewa and found a person of interest.
Where reports differ
- One report specifies the theft involved copper casings, while another describes them as copper castings
Compiled from reports by NZ Herald and 1News.