Some folks are just plain idiots. https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/copper-thieves-have-new-target-electric-vehicle-charging-stations/635DX4LIGVASVOLWBKKAJBUUAY/
It is so easy to add counter measures: electronic health monitoring of cable-to-plug video cameras in charging station base speed-dial to local police department for support to report the 'in progress' theft ban on recycled cable without ownership documentation and seller registration Bob Wilson
None of those things are really going to be effective. However, recyclers could mail checks for payment of recycled materials. That's what Washington state started doing for catalytic converter theft.
I used to live in southern Italy and people would break your car window just to steal the change in your cup holder. Left a backpack visible? Even more likely. A bit of that here in the states too. Don’t leave things of value visible. I think here after a few runs having to tear apart a cable and only get $10, maybe it’s not worth it, but I’m kind of hoping they get a mild electric shock (non lethal; just to surprise them). People don’t climb up power poles to steal transformers because they know they’ll get a shock. But there will always be theft. I think we have 10k years of human history demonstrating not all of us are geniuses.
