Metal thieves have targeted more than 30 electricity substations in the borough – costing the public around £20,000.

Police say there have been 31 break-ins including 12 in the last 10 days with several in Rishton targeted multiple times.

They claim that thieves are risking their lives by cutting through the high voltage cables so they can sell them on as scrap.

Officers at Accrington Police Station have now launched Operation Metal Mickey to target the substation thieves. On the spot fines of up to £300 are being issued to dealers who fail to produce a waste disposal licence for metal and scrap yards throughout the borough are being visited.

PC Louis Boyle, from Accrington Police Station, said: "Metal theft crime has gone through the roof. Thieves are breaking into these substations and stealing earthing cable. They will make about £70 each time but it costs the energy company hundreds of pounds to replace the metal. They get very little out of it compared to the dangers of going in."

PC Boyle added: "There are thousands of volts going through these wires and somebody could end up killed."

Last month, the Observer exclusively reported how thieves broke into five of the borough’s substations to steal more than £1,000 of cable.

Electricity North West, which owns, operates and maintains the north west’s electricity distribution network, said the costs will ultimately be passed onto customers who will have to foot the bill. They said 30 substations had been targeted in the borough over the last month.

Asset manager Eddie Hamilton called the thefts ‘appalling’ and said they are investing an extra £1m to improve security at substations.

Hyndburn MP, Graham Jones, has also been discussing the substation theft problem in parliament.

Earlier this week he introduced a Metal Theft Prevention Bill which will provide a ‘robust’ licensing regime for metal dealers and give police and magistrates greater powers.

"This bill will finally close the holes in the regulatory system around metal theft which make it far too easy for people to make money from stolen metal," Mr Jones said.

"It is time to get tough on this endemic crime. Metal theft in this country is a crime which is out of control and it’s about time the government took swift firm action."