Organized criminal groups are increasingly targeting electric vehicle charging infrastructure across Europe. These gangs use high-powered cutting tools and stolen vehicles to hit multiple locations in a single night. In 2025, the UK operator InstaVolt lost approximately 260 cables from 130 chargers, while German operator EnBW reported theft at 120 locations with damages exceeding €1 million.
Formula Space has developed CableGuard, a protective sleeve designed to make cables harder to cut while maintaining flexibility. The company recently launched its V4 version, which is engineered to resist angle grinders and power tools. The sleeve can be retrofitted to existing chargers in about 20 minutes and is compatible with hardware from manufacturers such as Nidec, Wallbox, and Kempower.
The technology aims to increase the time and effort required for theft, thereby raising the risk of detection. CableGuard is currently installed at thousands of sites globally, with adopters including TotalEnergies, Atlante, Allego, E.ON, RAW Charging, and Sainsbury's Smart Charge. The system can be further supported by forensic marking and GPS tracking to help identify stolen materials.
Criminal groups have adapted to stricter scrap metal regulations by stripping, chopping, or melting stolen copper into ingots to remove identifying markings. These materials are then mixed with legitimate scrap for cross-border sale. Formula Space notes that sites in quiet areas with poor lighting or lack of monitored CCTV remain the most vulnerable to repeated attacks.
