Copper thieves struck at this Hydro-Québec transmission plant in Repentigny, Que. Friday.Copper thieves struck at this Hydro-Québec transmission plant in Repentigny, Que. Friday. (CBC)

Police in Repentigny, Que., a suburb northeast of Montreal, are investigating a robbery at a Hydro-Québec transmission plant.

The thieves cut through a fence surrounding the plant and stole 150 meters of copper-coated electric wires.

Hydro-Québec employees discovered the robbery and alerted police.

Police believe the thieves carried out the robbery to sell the copper on the black market.

Copper is currently worth $3.46 US per pound.

Police said the wires were live and the thieves would have had to have been very skilled to commit the robbery.

Police initially said the stolen goods were worth about $500,000 but Hydro-Québec has re-evaluated the theft at $2,000.