THIEVES who targeted an electrical contractors risked their lives as they tried to steal cables from under a portacabin – when they were still connected to the mains.

The shop and offices of Roger Davey Electrical were hit around midnight on Friday, June 5, and a quantity of scrap metal was taken.

Proprieter Roger Davey said he is 'regretting' leaving the quantity of scrap metal outside his Fetter Hill base.

He told the Review: "The thieves must have spotted the cable, though it was tucked away, and pulled it out. But I think they must have realised that it was still live, and left it."

He told the Review: "Whoever did it must have checked out the other stuff was there, before returning late on Friday night.

"I suppose it's partly my own fault for leaving the stuff out, but it was just general metal scrap, including a bin full of bits of wire ends that we collect on jobs and bring back to be sorted.

"The bin must have weighed quite a bit, and they would have had to lift it over some things. So I think they must have been here for quite a while."

Anyone who saw any suspicious activity around the premises on that night is asked to call Gloucestershire Police on 101, quoting incident number 250.