By Hayley Robinson

A farm house was plunged into darkness after thieves risked their lives and stole an electricity cable.

The cable was cut and around 200 meters taken following the incident at Whipstakes Farm in Stockbury on Tuesday, October 20. It is not known exactly what time the theft occurred.

The occupier of the house, who doesn’t want to be named, only found out about the theft when she called EDF Energy because she had no electricity and an engineer was sent out.

She said: "I rang EDF and they asked me to check if my meter was still running. It’s outside so I had to go out there with a candle. It wasn’t running so they said it must be a problem with the cable outside. They said they’d send someone out that night but then they rang to say they couldn’t come out due to heath and safety.

"They eventually came at 2pm on Wednesday and the man said "we can’t mend that love your cables been robbed."

"They fitted me with a generator so I had power then they came back on Thursday and repaired the cable.

"I just can’t believe someone stole the cable."

Kent police are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

PC Allison Weller, who is investigating the case, said: "It’s unbelievable to think that someone would risk their own life to steal the cable. With 240 volts flowing through it, they could have easily been electrocuted.

"If you know anyone who has recently had a substantial amount of copper cable, please contact us."

Nick Rogers, head of health and safety at EDF Energy Networks, is urging the public to keep an eye out for anyone tampering with electricity lines and associated equipment.

He said: "EDF Energy Networks is committed to providing a safe, reliable electricity service. Tampering with our electrical equipment is taking a risk which has potentially fatal consequences.

"EDF Energy Networks is working with the police in order to prevent such incidents, particularly because the risks involved are horrendous, severe burns and the loss of life in some cases.

"We will always assist the police with their investigations and support prosecutions, which can result in large fines or even prison sentences."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Kent Police on 01795 419182 quoting reference CY/17391/09. Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.