$50,000 reward offered in copper thefts
After thousands of feet of copper cable have been stolen from locations around the county in recent weeks, Verizon officials announced the company is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the individuals responsible for a recent spike in copper thefts. According to company officials, the theft of copper telephone cable has put public safety at risk for hundreds of customers in Fayette County and has resulted in some telephone service outages.
Officials said that thieves have cut and stolen thousands of feet of copper cable from nine separate Verizon locations, resulting in more than $20,000 in damages.
“These thefts are incomprehensible because they put people’s lives in danger and can cost thousands of dollars to repair,” Michael Wagner, director of construction for Verizon Pennsylvania, said in a press release.
“We will not tolerate these deliberate and malicious acts against our telephone network and our customers.”
Verizon officials said they are working with the state police and local law enforcement to find those responsible.
The recent rash of thefts began in the Uniontown area April 22 when a 360 feet of copper cable was cut and stolen.
Three days later in Farmington, thieves stole a 600-foot section of copper cable.
The following day in the area of White House, officials said that 400 feet of copper cable and a fiber-optic cable were cut and stolen.
Then on May 5 in the White House area, thieves stole a 290-foot section of a copper cable and a fiber-optic cable.
On May 11, 300 feet of cable was cut and stolen in Shoaf and a 230-foot section of cable was cut and stolen in Smithfield.
Officials said the following day more than 1,200 feet of copper cable and a fiber-optic cable was cut and stolen from the Haydentown area.
Additional thefts totaling more than 800 feet of copper cable were reported May 14 through May 17 in McClellandtown and Gates.
Anyone with information regarding the thefts can call Verizon Security at 412-633-4902 or state police at 724-439-7111.