THIEVES cheated death in a botched raid on a Kirklees electricity sub-station.
Police have revealed that intruders who tried to steal copper cable caused an explosion.
And they believe the would-be thieves may have suffered burns as they escaped from the sub- station in Hightown Road, Liversedge.
It was only two weeks ago that a teenage boy died after trying to steal cable in West Yorkshire.
The 16-year-old was electrocuted at a disused power station in Leeds. Ryan Woolams, from the city, died during a suspected copper cable theft at Skelton Grange in Stourton.
It is believed he tampered with cabling at the site.
The Liversedge incident happened on Tuesday night and was discovered when electricity workers called at the sub-station at 7.51am yesterday.
Now officers from the Spen Valley Neighbourhood Police team are appealing for information.
Police said the suspects had removed a padlock from a door and had then attempted to steal the cable.
They left empty-handed, however, and it is believed that they could have been injured.
Insp Tim Holland, of the Spen NPT, said: “When they tried to remove the copper cable. it appears that they caused an electricity arc or some sort of explosion within the building.
“It would therefore be a very lucky person who came away from something like that without any sort of injury.
“We would appeal for anyone who knows of someone who has suffered recent and mysterious burns or injuries to call us”.
Contact police on 01924 295357 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
