A Lloydminster man has been arrested for chopping up electrical wires on power line poles.

On April 30th at 4:57 a.m., Lloydminster RCMP responded to a call regarding a man outside the back alley of 44 Street between 56 Avenue and 57B Avenue.

Officers arrived to find and arrest a lone male who was, indeed, cutting wires on power poles. Hand tools and copper wire were seized from him.

That same day, at 9:12 a.m., an Atco Electric employee reported that seven power poles were damaged.

In a statement, an Atco employee said: “This ground system protects people and equipment from electric shock, lightning strikes, and electrical noise. Without electrical ground there is potential of fire, damage to equipment as well as shock.”

Now, 32-year-old Travis Lee Fraser from Lloydminster is facing five charges and was to appear in court on Tuesday.