Associated Press - November 21, 2009 2:54 PM ET
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Des Moines-area authorities say vandals have caused more than $100,000 in damage to MidAmerican Energy transformers during the past month.
The most recent incident came Thursday, when vandals punched a small hole in the bottom of an oil cooling container on a transformer. About 200 gallons of oil drained out, and the transformer exploded.
The explosion left a nearby Perkins restaurant in the dark. MidAmerican Energy says the damage was about $25,000.
Ann Thelen, a spokeswoman for MidAmerican, says the spilled oil isn't hazardous. She says the company doesn't know why its transformers are being targeted.
Several other incidents have been reported in recent weeks, with each causing about $30,000 in damage.
No arrests have been made.
Information from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com
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