Green Mountain Power says copper thefts from its Vermont electric substations are reaching the point where thieves are threatening the lives of utility workers and the nearby public.

The utility said that over the past two months, as many as four Green Mountain Power substations have been vandalized by copper thieves, compromising the safety and integrity of these facilities.

GMP Safety Director Matt McCoy said the utility’s greatest fear is that a life will be lost. He said it could be one of the vandals, a GMP employee or an unsuspecting child wandering into a substation left unsecured by thieves.

At one substation, the thieves cut the lock to the gate, which created a public hazard by allowing access to a dangerous facility.