THIEVES caused significant contamination to the area surrounding a disused service station just off the A43 near the Gayton Marina when they tried to steal copper coils last weekend.
They also set fire to a power unit causing considerable damage and it is likely power supplies to homes and businesses in Blisworth and Hunsbury would have been interrupted during the early hours of Sunday, April 29.
Police are now appealing for information about any suspicious activity, involving people or vehicles, on the A43 south of the M1 junction just after midnight last Sunday.
A police spokesman said: “It is thought the fire was set in connection with the attempted theft of copper coils, which were stored in a large tank on the site and which were surrounded by gallons of insulating oil.
“The oil was also drained from the tank surround, causing significant contamination to the local area.”
Anyone with information should call Northants Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.