West Indianapolis residents have seen a sharp increase in copper thefts that leave homes and businesses without phone, internet and even 911 service. At a meeting held Aug. 31 at the Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center, representatives from AT&T, Spectrum, Comcast, local police and state officials discussed how to protect critical telecommunications infrastructure.
Why thieves target copper
For decades, telecom carriers ran data through copper cables coated in plastic. Although many companies are now shifting to fiber‑optic lines, the older copper remains valuable on the scrap market – about $4 per pound – and thieves treat it like a commodity, watching metal prices and striking when values spike.
“They’ll climb a pole, cut a section of wire, strip the plastic or burn it off, then try to sell the raw copper,” said Jim Lekse, AT&T’s lead investigator for global security and a former Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officer.
Impact on emergency services
When copper is stolen, the damage goes beyond a simple outage. “It’s not just a property crime,” Lekse warned. “It affects people’s connection to 911, local law‑enforcement dispatch centers and cell towers. We even had a case where a stolen copper line took out the radar at Indianapolis International Airport’s tower and the National Weather Service.”
Fiber‑optic lines are also being cut by thieves hoping to find copper, leaving customers of Spectrum – a company that now uses only fiber – without service for days. Repairing a fiber line is labor‑intensive; each strand must be spliced individually, often taking two to twelve hours or longer.
Local incidents and safety warnings
Recent incidents include thefts at the Wayne Township Preschool and Life Church 180, as well as a fatal electrocution of a 41‑year‑old man on an Interstate 70 utility pole on Aug. 5. Law‑enforcement urges residents to watch for unfamiliar workers on poles. “If someone’s on our wire, they should be in a marked AT&T truck, wearing a badge and a company helmet,” Lekse said. “If not, call the police.”
Residents can report crimes in progress by calling 911, or file past‑incident reports at 317‑327‑3811. Tips leading to arrests can be submitted to AT&T Global Security (1‑800‑807‑4205) or Spectrum (1‑833‑404‑8477), with rewards of up to $5,000 and $25,000 respectively.
New state law tightens copper sales
Indiana’s Senate Bill 271, effective July 1, strengthens regulations on the sale of telecommunications wire. Sellers must now provide detailed documentation proving they are authorized to sell copper wire, and buyers who knowingly purchase stolen material face a level‑6 felony – up to three years in jail and a $10,000 fine.
These measures aim to make it riskier for thieves to profit from stolen copper and easier for investigators to trace illegal sales.
What businesses and homeowners can do
AT&T is working with scrap yards to flag stolen copper, noting that its wire is uniquely twisted and braided, making it identifiable even after burning. Homeowners are encouraged to keep an eye on utility poles, report suspicious activity, and ensure any work on their property is performed by clearly marked, authorized crews.
While the problem persists, the combined effort of telecom companies, law‑enforcement and new legislation offers a stronger defense against those who would jeopardize essential communications for a quick profit.
Original reporting: Mirror Indy — read the source article.
