New EV charging stations outside popular East Pierce business vandalized for 2nd time
The charging cords of Puget Sound Energy’s new electric-vehicle charging stations were vandalized a week after they were unveiled at the Old Cannery Furniture Warehouse in Sumner.
The charging stations were installed through a partnership between Puget Sound Energy, the city of Sumner and the Old Cannery. It is PSE’s first public electric-vehicle charging location installed in Pierce County as part of its “Up & Go Electric” program, according to the company’s website.
To celebrate the installation, there was a ribbon cutting ceremony on March 7. On March 12, it was discovered that the power cords were stolen.
Dave Radcliffe, CEO of Old Cannery, told The News Tribune on March 13 it is the second time in the span of a few months that the charging cords were stolen. They discovered the cords of the four electric charging ports were cut on March 12. He said that he believes they were cut and stolen the previous night.
Radcliffe said that the charging stations were under construction last year in October and November. There was protective fencing around the stations, which was taken off on Nov. 14, 2023 when construction ended. Some time between November and December after the fencing was removed, six of the power cords were cut and stolen.
After the first vandalism, four of the power cords were replaced. Radcliffe said that it is difficult to get the power cords as they are on back order.
On March 12, all four of the new power cords were cut and stolen. Radcliffe said the cords might be getting stolen because there is a good amount of copper in them. People can take the copper wires to sell.
“That’s just an opinion rather than a fact,” he said.
The person or people who stole the cords the first time were never identified, Radcliffe said.
“We’re gonna put some additional security cameras in the area, and we’re also going to be installing a great deal more lighting in this area, because we’re assuming it happens at night,” Radcliffe said.
PSE said the charging stations cost more than $500,000 to install.
“PSE is aware of an act of vandalism at its newly opened Sumner EV charging station. The station, located in a well-lit area, adjacent to the Valley Freeway (SR 167) sustained damage to the electric charging cables,” the company said in an email to The News Tribune. “PSE is working with local law enforcement and the property owner to investigate the vandalism. PSE is looking into additional security measures at the property.”
Efforts to reach the Sumner Police Department for information on the investigation were unsuccessful.
This story was originally published March 13, 2024 at 3:40 PM.
