Overview

• EnBW reports well over 900 cable thefts this year across more than 130 fast-charging sites, while EWE Go counts incidents in the mid-to-high double digits and Ionity cites about 30 in Germany and just over 100 across Europe.
• Repairing a single cut cable typically costs €2,500 to €5,000, and EnBW estimates total damage in the low single-digit millions, with stations often offline for several days.
• Ionity is fitting cables with ink cartridges and testing tracking to deter theft and resale, EnBW is adding stronger lighting, video surveillance, cut‑resistant cables and real-time tamper alerts, and EWE Go warns ink can slow cleanups and prefers cameras.
• Police lack a comprehensive nationwide tally of cases, as the BKA and Baden‑Württemberg LKA say current statistics do not record these incidents precisely.
• Operators note hot spots in Nordrhein‑Westfalen, Niedersachsen, Sachsen and Sachsen‑Anhalt, fewer incidents at 24/7 high‑visibility motorway and Aral pulse sites, ambiguous motives given copper’s low resale value, and repeat attacks that are hard to police.