Abstract: A detection and location system, e.g. for liquid leaks, comprising a trunk line sensor cable and a plurality of branch line cables at intermediate points of the trunk cable. Each of the cables comprises two insulated conductors and two non-insulated conductors, e.g. conductive polymer-coated wires, which become connected upon occurrence of a leak. In one embodiment, each of the insulated conductors in the trunk line is continuous and each of the non-insulated conductors is discontinuous at each intermediate point; the branch line conductors are respectively connected to the discontinuous ends of the non-insulated trunk line conductors, and are connected in pairs of one insulated and one non-insulated conductor at the end of each branch.