Amidst a rising wave of cable theft affecting rail networks, energy systems, construction sites, and vacant properties, First Response Group (FRG) introduces FRG Tremors—a seismic detection system designed to detect any interference with both installed cables and stored cable drums, providing real-time tracking capabilities for stolen materials.
This technology promises instant visibility over critical infrastructure, allowing for immediate response.
Innovative seismic detection
FRG Tremors, a unique offering by First Response Group in the UK, employs seismic sensors to monitor vibrations, tilting, and movement around cables and related infrastructure.
Once tampering is detected, an encrypted signal alerts the FRG's 24-hour control centre, which notifies designated response teams and law enforcement. The system's integrated GPS, complete with jamming detection, tracks stolen cables in real time, facilitating recovery efforts by the police.
Durable and autonomous operation
The device is equipped with a long-life battery, ensuring autonomous operation for up to three years.
Engineered to endure remote and exposed conditions, FRG Tremors excels where traditional CCTV and motion sensors often fail, particularly along railway lines, renewable energy sites, material storage areas, and vacant commercial properties.
Proven effectiveness
FRG reports successful trials of the system across six active infrastructure sites, including rail feeder lines and signalling cable routes, with no theft incidents recorded during a 60-day testing phase despite challenging weather conditions.
This launch addresses industry and law enforcement concerns over increasing metal theft, which causes significant financial losses and threatens public safety and power supply.
Industry context and challenges
The Energy Networks Association highlights ongoing losses due to metal theft, while British Transport Police have noted increased incidents along railway corridors, impacting signalling and causing delays. Additionally, the Office for National Statistics recorded a 42% rise in metal theft offences from 2022 to 2024.
Business impact and strategic integration
The introduction of FRG Tremors is timely, as UK businesses face economic challenges
The introduction of FRG Tremors is timely, as UK businesses face economic challenges, with industry pioneera warning against further financial pressures. FRG aims to address theft-related disruptions that affect business continuity and financial stability.
"Cable theft has become one of the most damaging and costly crimes facing UK infrastructure," stated James Reed, head of construction and infrastructure at FRG. "FRG Tremors changes the model from passive surveillance to active response, allowing for deployment of canine or mobile units to prevent damage."
Expanding security solutions
This system is part of FRG's broader strategy to integrate technology with human solutions nationwide. FRG Tremors connects with the company's digital platform for comprehensive threat detection and management and complements other systems like mobile perimeter intruder detection (M-PIDS), CCTV, and access control for a layered defence strategy.
FRG plans to deploy FRG Tremors nationwide via regional security hubs, prioritising utilities, rail, and energy infrastructure, as well as large property portfolios managing vacant assets. Additionally, the system's cost-effectiveness and scalability make it suitable for both short and long-term applications, drawing interest from operators of remote assets like renewable energy sites and data centres.
As cable theft continues to plague rail networks, energy systems, construction and utilities sites and vacant commercial properties, First Response Group (FRG) has unveiled FRG Tremors - a breakthrough seismic detection system that senses tampering to both laid cable and cable drums in storage, and tracks stolen cable in real time, giving operators instant visibility over critical infrastructure and the means to respond immediately.
FRG Tremors, exclusive to First Response Group in the UK, uses seismic sensors to monitor vibration, tilt and movement around cabling and associated infrastructure.
When tampering is detected, an encrypted signal is transmitted to FRG’s 24-hour control centre, which alerts nominated response teams and police. If material is removed, onboard GPS with jamming detection activates, enabling stolen cable to be tracked in real time until recovery by law enforcement.
Long-life battery
Each unit operates autonomously on a long-life battery for up to three years and is engineered to function in remote or exposed environments where traditional CCTV and motion sensors struggle, such as along rail lines, renewable-energy sites, compounds storing material awaiting installation or empty commercial properties awaiting reoccupation.
According to FRG, the system has already been proving effective in trials across six live infrastructure facilities, including rail feeder lines and signalling cable routes, recording zero level theft throughout the pilot. The sensors performed reliably in high winds, rainfall and mixed terrain, with no false alarms recorded during 60 consecutive days of live testing.
Ground-breaking security system
The ground-breaking security system’s launch follows mounting warnings from industry bodies and law enforcement about the resurgence of metal theft. The Energy Networks Association says the crime continues to cause millions in losses every year, putting public safety and power continuity at risk.
British Transport Police has also reported a rise in thefts along rail corridors, leading to signalling delays and cancellations. Meanwhile, the Office for National Statistics recorded a 42 per cent increase in “theft of metal” offences between 2022 and 2024.
The launch of FRG Tremors comes at a time of already heightened financial strain for UK businesses. Ahead of the Autumn Budget 2025, the British Chambers of Commerce has warned that firms “cannot absorb further shocks” as inflation, energy costs and insurance premiums remain elevated.
With material theft often causing weeks of disruption, security failures are now being viewed not as an operational nuisance, but as a business-continuity and balance-sheet risk.
Cable theft
“Cable theft has become one of the most damaging and costly crimes facing UK infrastructure,” said James Reed, head of construction and infrastructure at First Response Group: “FRG Tremors changes the model from passive surveillance to active response - we can identify an attempted theft in seconds, deploy canine or mobile units, and prevent the damage before it occurs.”
“For operators already battling inflation and budget pressure, the cost of prevention is now far lower than the cost of recovery.”
“We’re seeing an increasing need for systems that work where cameras and security officers cannot,” Reed added. “That means battery autonomy, secure data transmission, GPS accuracy and rapid integration with live-response networks. FRG Tremors brings all of that into one deployable solution.”
Integrating technology and human-power
FRG Tremors forms part of FRG’s wider strategy to integrate technology and human-power across its national network. The system interfaces with FRG’s digital platform, which is already used for alarm response and enables a unified picture of threat detection, escalation and incident closure.
It can also be layered with complementary systems such as M-PIDS (mobile perimeter intruder detection), CCTV and access control for multi-tiered defence.
FRG said it plans to roll out FRG Tremors nationwide through its regional security hubs, with priority deployment across utilities, rail and energy infrastructure, as well as large property portfolios managing vacant assets. Early interest has also come from renewables and data-centre operators seeking protection for remote assets.
The company emphasised that the system’s cost-efficiency and scalability make it suitable for both short-term and permanent installations.
