Around 14,000 customers impacted after substations in Tacoma vandalized by burglars

CNN
 — 

Around 14,000 customers in Puyallup and Graham, Washington, were impacted Sunday after burglars vandalized three power substations belonging to Tacoma Public Utilities and Puget Sound Energy, police said.

No suspects are in custody at this time, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department added in a statement Sunday.

The sheriff’s department said their agency first received a report of a burglary at the Tacoma Public Utilities substation at 5:26 a.m. PT.

“Deputies arrived on scene and saw there was forced entry into the fenced area,” according to the statement. “Nothing had been taken from the substation, but the suspect vandalized the equipment causing a power outage in the area.”

Pierce County Sheriff Deputies were alerted to a report of a second burglary at another Tacoma Public Utilities substation, which also had forced entry with damage to equipment, the statement said. Similar to the first substation, nothing was taken.

“At 11:25 we were notified by Puget Sound Energy that they too had a power outage this morning at 02:39 am. Deputies are currently on scene at this facility where the fenced area was broken into and the equipment vandalized,” the statement continued.

“At this time deputies are conducting the initial investigation. We do not have any suspects in custody. It is unknown if there are any motives or if this was a coordinated attack on the power systems,” the statement said.

The FBI’s Seattle Division told CNN Sunday it was aware of the reports but declined to confirm or deny its role in any investigation, adding, “We do take threats against our infrastructure seriously and urge anyone with information to contact law enforcement.”

The city of Puyallup is located 10 miles south of Tacoma. Graham is located 16 miles south of Tacoma.