LANCASTER, Ky. (AP) -- About 700 homes were left without power after officials say someone stripped about 40 copper ground wires from a Garrard County substation.

Inter-County Energy Vice President Sheree H. Gilliam told The Advocate-Messenger (http://bit.ly/OjPQ3I ) that someone cut through a fence surrounding a substation just outside of Lancaster Thursday evening and took the wires.

Gilliam says that caused a two-hour plus power outage and endangered the life of the thief.

Garrard County deputy sheriffs and Lancaster police officers searched the area to make sure there was no one hurt or dead; investigators also called local hospitals to find out if anyone had come in with electricity-related injuries. The search yielded nothing.

Gilliam says Inter-County Energy officials will not know until Monday how repairs will cost, but the financial loss is "significant."