Central Networks have turned to a Shropshire company for help in a bid to clamp down on copper thefts which cost the electricity company more than £1 million last year.

Bosses said they have signed a five-year deal with Telford security firm SmartWater to help clamp down on metal and copper thefts. The company said there were 850 incidents of metal thefts reported last year.

Distribution bosses said incidents in 2011 had already doubled when compared with January and February last year.

SmartWater traps, which spray thieves with coded forensic fluid, or a special water coating, will now be placed on electrical cables across the UK.

Phil Wilson, customer operations manager for Central Networks, which delivers power to more than five million customers across England, said: “Copper theft has become all too common a problem and this move shows just how serious we are about protecting our network.

“Apart from the risk of injury or even death, thieves could find themselves and their tools coated in a substance which is traceable if they try and steal from our network.

“By doing everything we can to deter thieves, our field teams will be able to spend less time repairing the damage and concentrate on making a service better for our millions of customers.

“Hopefully this deterrent will make thieves think twice about risking their life for the sake of scrap metal as, chances are, they’re going to get caught.”

The Telford company has also signed a deal with Network Rail after metal thefts have cost the train operator £35million in repair bills and fines since the 2006.

SmartWater bosses say the multi-million pound deals with Central Networks and Network Rail come at a time when metal prices are rocketing.

Phil Cleary, SmartWater chief executive, said: “Metal theft is an international problem and we are committed to working with different bodies to continue to tackle this issue.

“We have developed a long term strategy to combat this type of theft.”

By Peter Finch and Sentho Pembleton