'Copper thief' is severely burnt in East Yorkshire
A suspected copper thief is in hospital with serious burns after he was injured while apparently trying to cut electrical cables in East Yorkshire.
Police said the man, 21, from Malton, North Yorkshire, sustained 40% burns and was being treated at Pinderfields Specialist Burns Unit in Wakefield.
They said his injuries were severe but non life threatening.
East Yorkshire Police said they had secured a substation near Driffield that had been attacked on Thursday.
Police are urging people not to put themselves and others at risk by unlawfully entering electricity substations.
Detective Inspector Tony Cockerill said: "There are thousands of volts in substations and anyone who does not know what they are doing and makes a false move could be left dead.
"We believe thieves are stealing the metal for its scrap value and so I would appeal to dealers to be on their guard and report to police anyone trying to sell them electrical copper wire."