Is it a crime to smash photovoltaic panels

Are solar panels causing a rise in solar crime?

A rise in solar crime means eco-conscious homeowners and farmers who have diversified into renewables should check their security and insurance. The warning comes after police figures revealed a 48 per cent rise in solar panel and cabling theft from 2021 to 2022.¹

Are solar panel thefts a crime?

Organised criminal gangs tend to rely on familiar methods for committing solar panel thefts, and their movements can often be predicted. By paying attention to advisories issued by law enforcement and local media reports, site operators can identify times and locations that are at high risk for theft.

How to protect solar panels from theft & vandalism?

This approach can be a cost-effective way to protect solar panel systems and deter criminal activity. Like other valuable assets, solar panels must be protected from theft and vandalism as much as possible. One effective way to do this is by installing physical barriers that make it difficult for thieves to remove panels from the site.

Are solar panels being stolen?

Recent reports from Germany highlight a significant increase in solar panel thefts, with law enforcement attributing the crimes to the current energy crisis and growing demand for solar energy. In the UK, solar farms are also at risk of similar criminal activity.

Are solar panels a target for criminals?

Large solar panel farm installations can cost hundreds of thousands of pounds, and even small-scale residential grids require an upfront investment. This factor is one of many that make solar panels an easy target for criminals. Let’s look at some of the major issues:

Are solar farms a crime?

Inverters, solar batteries and converters (more commonly installed at residential sites) are also expensive pieces of equipment more vulnerable to theft. Other crimes impacting solar farms include vandalism and, perhaps surprisingly, protests and civil unrest. Vandalism is not always a planned, deliberate crime.