Attempted fires at PSEG substations used to distract responders

What happened

Police said two men attempted to set fires at PSEG substations on Long Island, New York, to distract first responders while burglaries were committed at nearby businesses in Suffolk County. LIPA and PSEG said the attempts did not cause power outages and that security at the sites had been increased. Police also said nine burglaries took place over six months at delis, laundromats and petrol stations. The defendants pleaded not guilty.

Contributing factors

Police described the substation fires as an attempt to divert emergency services from the burglaries. The utilities said the attempts did not interrupt supply.

Lessons learned

1. Substation sites should have intrusion detection and rapid response protocols to deter arson attempts.
2. Utilities should share intelligence with law enforcement on patterns of substation tampering linked to other crimes.
3. Operators should maintain contingency plans for community services that rely on continuous supply.

Source

cbsnews.com