Resources
National Information
Research & White Papers
Protecting the Nation’s Critical Communications Infrastructure from Theft & Vandalism
Laws & Regulations
Stopping the Theft and Destruction of Broadband Act
On April 10, 2025, Congresswoman Laurel Lee (R-FL) and Congressman Marc Veasey (D-TX) introduced the Stopping the Theft and Destruction of Broadband Act, which would impose penalties for those who damage or steal broadband lines.
Read the bill text here.
“To safeguard critical infrastructure and protect consumers, we need stronger, clearer laws and enhanced enforcement, ensuring that those who maliciously harm our networks face severe criminal penalties. That is why I introduced the Stopping the Theft and Destruction of Broadband Act to impose strict penalties on those who seek to damage or steal broadband lines.”
CONGRESSWOMAN LAUREL LEE (R-FL)
“I am proud to introduce this bill to address the growing problem of broadband cable theft, which disrupts essential services for communities and businesses across the country. This legislation ensures stronger protections for vital infrastructure and enhances access to reliable internet for all Americans.”
CONGRESSMAN MARC VEASEY (D-TX)
Statement of NCTA – The Internet & Television Association on the introduction of the Stopping the Theft and Destruction of Broadband Act:
“We applaud Reps. Lee and Veasey for introducing the Stopping the Theft and Destruction of Broadband Act, which addresses the growing threat of vandalism to critical communications infrastructure. These networks are essential to public safety, national security, and daily life, yet increasing copper theft and sabotage are disrupting emergency services, damaging key sectors, and resulting in consumers losing service. By strengthening our federal laws to meet this growing threat, we can leverage stronger deterrents and harsher penalties to better protect the networks that keep Americans connected and safe.”
Media
Spectrum Says Fiber Optic Outage in LA Area ‘Caused by a Criminal Act of Vandalism’
CNN, 06/16/2025
“Internet and cable provider Spectrum has reported outages in Los Angeles are ’caused by a criminal act of vandalism,’ according to a company post Sunday on X. The most common user issues have been total blackouts, landline and internet problems, and no signal. The outage has affected neighborhoods surrounding Los Angeles, such as North Hollywood, as well as in the Orange County cities of Anaheim and Santa Ana.”
National Broadband Theft and Vandalism: A Sample of Destructive Acts Since January
Free State Foundation, 06/04/2025
“In January, I published a Free State Foundation Perspectives outlining the urgent need to strengthen penalties for those who vandalize our nation’s critical communications infrastructure or steal parts of it. Since then, the frequency and severity of these destructive acts have only escalated.”
Congress and States Should Close Loopholes to Stop Broadband Vandals
ITIF, 06/03/2025
“The information superhighway has bandits. In 2024 alone, there were nearly 6,000 incidents of theft and vandalism of communications infrastructure. Thieves often cut broadband lines in search of copper they can sell to metal recyclers.”
Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Broadband Theft and Vandalism
Broadband Breakfast, 04/15/2025
“Consumers rely on broadband for nearly every aspect of daily life,” Lee said in a press release. “Yet those who sabotage our networks often face little accountability. This bill ensures they face serious consequences.”
NCTA: Vandalism of Communications Infrastructure on the Rise
Broadband Breakfast, 04/11/2025
“The continued vulnerability of telecommunications networks poses a risk not only to consumers, who suffer from outages as a result of widespread damage, but also to first responders, financial institutions and healthcare facilities that rely on reliable connectivity.”
Study Shows Vandals of ‘Critical’ Infrastructure on the Rise
Light Reading, 04/09/2025
“A staggering 5,770 reported intentional incidents of theft and vandalism—an average of 27 incidents per day–targeted communications infrastructure between June and December 2024, according to a report released today.”
The Importance of Protecting Critical Communications Infrastructure
NCTA, 04/09/2025
NARUC Wants Copper Theft Federally Criminalized
Broadband Breakfast, 02/26/2025
“NARUC said telecom infrastructure is “essential for emergency response systems, law enforcement coordination, and critical government operations,” adding that disruption to them due to theft and vandalism “jeopardizes public safety, imposes significant costs on providers, consumers, and the American economy.””
Telecom Industry Summit Puts Focus on Harms from Copper Theft
Broadband Breakfast, 11/19/2024
Surge in network vandalism and theft prompt industry push for tougher laws protecting communications infrastructure.
Protecting Networks: Battling the Rise in Copper Theft and Vandalism
NCTA, 11/20/2024
Telecom Industry Bands Together to Fight Rising Theft and Vandalism of Communications Infrastructure
Inside Towers, 11/20/2024
Metal Thieves Are Stripping America’s Cities
The New York Times, 07/09/2024
Across the country, copper and other valuable materials have been stolen from streetlights, statues and even gravesites, costing millions to repair.”
“In interviews, elected officials and police officers across the country said that they did not recall another time when public property like bridges, telecommunication cables and hydrants had been targeted by thieves at such a large scale.”
State Specific Information
Alabama
Laws & Regulations
In Alabama, if a party claims ownership of metal property in a recycler’s possession and the recycler contests, the other party may bring legal action.
Media
Talladega County Sheriff’s Office Investigating Recent Thefts
WBRC, 05/13/2024
Arizona
Media
A Surge in Copper Thefts in the Phoenix Area Has Some on Alert
Fox 10 Phoenix, 07/28/2024
Arkansas
Media
Copper Theft Behind AT&T Outages in Arkansas and Missouri, Police Say
4029 News, 04/23/2024
Copper Theft in Fort Smith Causes 911 Dispatch Outages, Police Say
5 News Online, 04/22/2024
California
Task Forces
Los Angeles
- In 2024, the Los Angeles Police Department and Bureau of Street Lighting formed a Copper Wire Task Force to address the issue of copper theft and vandalism, which has already resulted in 82 arrests and the recovery of 2,000 pounds of stolen material.
Media
Spectrum Says Fiber Optic Outage in LA Area ‘Caused by a Criminal Act of Vandalism’
CNN, 06/16/25
- “Internet and cable provider Spectrum has reported outages in Los Angeles are ’caused by a criminal act of vandalism,’ according to a company post Sunday on X. The most common user issues have been total blackouts, landline and internet problems, and no signal. The outage has affected neighborhoods surrounding Los Angeles, such as North Hollywood, as well as in the Orange County cities of Anaheim and Santa Ana.”
Attorney General Bonta: Copper Wire Theft Leaves Californians in the Dark, We Must Ensure the Lights Stay On
State of California Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General
- Between June and December 2024, the telecom industry alone reported nearly 6,000 incidents of copper theft and infrastructure vandalism nationwide.
Thieves Turn Copper Into Gold
National Insurance Crime Bureau
- “In California, thieves shut down numerous websites operated by state agencies when they ripped copper wire from a mile-long stretch of highway.”
Los Angeles Installing New Streetlights to Curb Copper Theft
KTLA 5, 04/02/2025
- Los Angeles is expanding its program to install hundreds of new solar-powered streetlights to curb rampant copper wire theft.
- “We’re reducing our carbon footprint, deterring copper wire theft, and tackling the streetlight backlog in the neighborhoods that need it most.”
LA Has a Backlog of Complaints About Streetlight Outages. Why Haven’t They Been Fixed?
LAist, 03/04/2025
- In its explanation for the backlog, the bureau cited safety concerns when its teams were sent to repair street lights that have been “severely impacted by copper wire theft, particularly in areas obstructed by homeless and RV encampments.”
- The 311 data doesn’t include the suspected cause of each outage that prompted a complaint, but the bureau said around 40% of street light outages are because of people stealing copper wire and power. That’s up 10% to 15% from the bureau’s estimate in June 2024.
- The bureau said reported incidents of copper wire and power theft have increased twelvefold in less than a decade.
Coverage of NARUC Panel on Critical Communications Infrastructure
Spectrum News SoCal InFocus, 12/16/2024
Conversation with Los Angeles City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez on Protecting Critical Communications Infrastructure and the Impacts of Copper Wire Theft
Spectrum News SoCal InFocus, 12/10/2024
Copper Wire Theft Threatening Infrastructure in East Bay
KTVU, 09/03/2024
Rise Of Copper Thefts in Richmond Affecting Businesses, Emergency Services
CBS News Bay Area, 09/03/2024
- “In Richmond, California, a series of copper thefts has plagued the community – with 200 instances reported so far this year compared to 20 last year. In response to the internet outages, a local business owner said, “It means we can’t take credit cards. We can’t get phone calls. I’m still old-fashioned. I have the old machine still, so I can still take credit cards and then when the internet, whenever it comes back up, then I can run them through. It does make the day a lot longer.””
City Council Boosts Copper Wire Theft Crackdown With $200,000. Critics Call It a Waste
Los Angeles Times, 08/09/2024
Deliberately Cut Wires Near SMF Cause Internet Outage, Some Flights Delayed
CBS News Sacramento, 04/18/2024
LA Copper Wire Theft: 82 Arrested, 2,000 Pounds of Wires Seized
Fox LA, 07/31/2024
Metal Thieves Are Stripping America’s Cities
The New York Times, 07/09/2024
- “Los Angeles City Council member Kevin de León, who represents the downtown area, recently pushed to create a task force to combat metal theft. In Mr. de León’s district alone, there were 6,900 cases of copper wire theft in the last fiscal year, up from just 600 cases five years ago. He said that some of the theft involved sophisticated criminal enterprises that recruit people struggling with addiction to do the stealing in exchange for drugs.”
Pinole, Hercules, San Pablo Without 911 Service for a Week
KTVU, 06/25/2024
Intentionally Cut Wires Caused an Internet Outage and Flight Delays at the Sacramento International Airport
CBS News 13 Sacramento, 04/18/2024
Copper Wire Thefts in LA Have Skyrocketed, Affecting Rail Crossings and Internet Access. Now The City’s Creating a Taskforce
LAist, 02/14/2024
Los Angeles creates a new task force to address copper wire theft
Boyle Heights Beat, 02/14/2024
- According to de León, the city had over 500-600 cases of copper wire theft each year for the past five years. That number had increased to over 6,000 cases by the end of 2023. “Our neighborhoods, our parks are bearing the brunt of this public menace,” de León said.
With copper theft impacting Boyle Heights, city leaders propose task force
Boyle Heights Beat, 01/23/2024
“Thieves are literally picking our city apart, for parts to sell,” de León said, frustrated with the countless calls from residents to the city reporting missing or damaged light fixtures in their neighborhoods.
Connecticut
Laws & Regulations
To come.
Florida
Laws & Regulations
In May 2024, Gov. Ron DeSantis introduced new legal protections for Florida’s critical infrastructure in signing House Bill 275, which created several new criminal offenses and imposed penalties for tampering, trespassing, unauthorized access, and cyberattacks on vital facilities and systems statewide.
- Knowing and intentional improper tampering with critical infrastructure that results in $200 or more in damages or causing an interruption or impairment that costs $200 or more in labor and supplies to restore is now a second-degree felony.
- Unauthorized entry onto critical infrastructure property is now a third-degree felony for trespassing where notice against entry is given.
Media
Florida Enacts Tougher Penalties for Tampering with State’s Critical Infrastructure
The Capitolist, 05/20/2024
- Florida law previously lacked specific provisions addressing these types of offenses, relying instead on general criminal mischief and trespassing statutes. HB 275 now fills this gap by providing a clear legal framework for prosecuting those who target critical infrastructure. It also establishes civil liability for individuals convicted of improperly tampering with critical infrastructure, making them liable for three times the amount of actual damages or any claims paid by the infrastructure owner or operator for property damage, personal injury, or wrongful death resulting from their actions.
Georgia
Media
Copper Theft Strikes Again: South DeKalb County Residents Endure 24-Hour Internet Blackout
Fox 5 Atlanta, 03/17/2025
Hawaii
Laws & Regulations
HI Rev Stat § 708-835.7 (2024)
§708-835.7 Theft of copper.
(1) A person commits the offense of theft of copper if the person commits theft of copper that weighs a pound or more, but not including legal tender of the United States. (2) Theft of copper is a class C felony.
Media
Theft Drops Dramatically with New Law Hawaiian Telecom Gets Hit with Seventh Instance of Copper Theft
Fierce Network, 04/25/2014
- “Similar to other states like West Virginia, Hawaii established a law that copper theft of one pound or more is a Class C felony. Other states, including Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky and Washington, have developed similar laws to help curb copper theft. Frontier Communications reported that due to the passing of the West Virginia copper theft law, incidents dropped between 2011 and 2012.”
Idaho
Laws & Regulations
Some cities in Idaho have required sellers present an ID to recyclers to combat the laundering of stolen metals.
Illinois
Media
Thieves Turn Copper Into Gold
National Insurance Crime Bureau
- “In Illinois, a man was electrocuted as he attempted to steal copper wire from a live line.”
Kansas
Laws & Regulations
HB 2061 (2025)
Specifically includes aboveground and belowground lines, cables and wires used for telecommunications or video services in the definition of a critical infrastructure facility. These changes incorporate these critical communications facilities into the legal definition of crimes regarding trespass on a critical infrastructure facility and criminal damage to a critical infrastructure facility.
- In April 2025, Governor Laura Kelly signed HB 2061, which expands the definition of a critical infrastructure facility to include telecommunications and broadband infrastructure.
“We know that it is critical all Kansans have access to reliable high-speed internet. By classifying broadband cables and wires as critical infrastructure, we are taking steps to deter tampering with these essential materials to ensure that Kansans’ internet service is not disrupted.”
KS Governor Laura Kelly
“Kansans rely on high-speed internet to grow our economy, access health care, pursue educational opportunities, and so much more. By classifying broadband infrastructure as critical infrastructure, we are making progress to protect the equipment that keeps Kansans’ internet access intact.”
KS State Representative Dan Osmon (District 48)
Media
Gov. Kelly Signs Bill That Classifies Broadband, Telecommunications Infrastructure as Critical
KAKE News, 04/07/2025
Kansas Reclassifies Broadband As Critical Infrastructure
State Scoop, 04/07/2025
“Broadband internet is now protected under the legal definition of critical infrastructure in Kansas. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly signed legislation Monday amending the state’s definition of a critical infrastructure facility to include telecommunications and broadband infrastructure so that their operations are better protected. It includes “technical aboveground and belowground lines, cables, and wires used for telecommunications or video services as well as antennas, towers, and structures.””
Kentucky
“Copper theft is no longer just a property crime, it’s putting lives at risk. When individuals cut down utility lines, they cut off communities from emergency services and basic necessities with digital communication now essential for public safety, education and economic growth. We must ensure the reliability of our broadband and telecommunications networks.”
KY Senator Brandon Storm
Laws & Regulations
In March 2025, Kentucky lawmakers passed one of the strongest laws in the country. Governor Beshear signed into law legislation that includes equipment or communications lines used in the delivery of cable television, telephony or broadband service as critical infrastructure, and imposes enhanced felony penalties on bad actors that damage, possess or tamper with this key infrastructure.
Task Forces
Louisville
- In fall 2024, the City of Louisville, KY announced the formation of its Critical Infrastructure Task Force, aimed at tracking copper wire thefts and prosecuting criminals who steal copper wire and cause damage to public infrastructure in the city. Read More.
Media
Staying Connected Means Slowing Copper-Theft Corridor Robberies
The Lane Report, 04/02/2025
Copper theft has risen to crisis levels. Here’s what Kentucky is doing about it.
Louisville Courier Journal, 03/31/2025
Louisville Officials Cracking Down On Copper Wire Theft
Louisville Public Media, 02/26/2025
KYTC: There are Around 1,400 Lights Out in Louisville Due to Copper Wire Thefts
ABC WHAS 11, 04/17/2024
In 2024, hundreds of highway lights were without power because the copper wiring was stolen.
Maine
Laws & Regulations
To come.
Massachusetts
Laws & Regulations
To come.
Michigan
Laws & Regulations
In Michigan, an individual that has been convicted of a crime involving theft, conversion, or sale of scrap metal may not enter a purchase transaction.
Minnesota
Laws & Regulations
Minnesota requires licenses to sell scrap metal to dealers, similar to how the state requires licenses to sell catalytic converters to recyclers.
Media
Statewide Copper Wire Theft Law Will Take Effect Jan. 1 Despite Lawsuit from Scrap Metal Industry
Pioneer Press (St. Paul), 12/29/2024
- “St. Paul officials said that in 2023, the city spent more than $1.2 million to address copper wire theft. Minneapolis officials said that over the past two years, the city spent $545,000 replacing stolen copper wire.”
Men Posing As AT&T Workers Stole Copper from Little Falls Business, Charges Say
CBS News, 05/22/2024
- “If they damage more expensive or other equipment on the tower, we could literally lose internet service to an entire town for a couple of days.”
Metal Thieves Are Stripping America’s Cities
The New York Times, 07/09/2024
- “A man was recently hit by a car and killed while crossing a street near his home where streetlights had gone out”
- ““It seemed like a weird little issue when it first came up,” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said of the wire theft in St. Paul and other communities across the state, “But it is costly and destructive.” Last month, Governor Walz signed a new law that will require people selling copper scrap metal in Minnesota to obtain a license from the state and to attest that the material was obtained legally. The state has a similar law regulating the sale of catalytic converters to recyclers.”
Mississippi
Laws & Regulations
Mississippi made it unlawful to sell or for a dealer to purchase any copper telecommunications wire in any form or any metal property identified as belonging to a telecom company.
Media
Two Arrested After Stealing $10,000 Of Copper Wire in Mississippi
WLBT, 04/26/2024
- “Sheriff Patten said it was the second time since April 15 that copper wire was stolen from the location. The lines cut and stolen took out internet service to the airport and FAA both times, Sheriff Patten said.”
Two Arrested for Stealing AT&T Internet Lines in Adams County
WJTV, 04/26/2024
Missouri
Laws & Regulations
Missouri law identifies communications networks and facilities as critical infrastructure and includes enhanced penalties for damage of communications networks.
Media
Man Caught Cutting Copper Wires in South St. Louis County, Disabling 911 Service
Fox 2, 09/24/2024
- Investigators say Lovett caused up to $25,000 worth of damage and disabled 911 service for a brief period of time.
Montana
Laws & Regulations
In April 2025, Governor Greg Gianforte signed into law critical infrastructure protections for broadband and wired communications.
HB 257 (2025)
Expands the existing crime of damaging critical infrastructure from only fenced-in property to all facilities, including wires, and adds broadband and wired communications facilities to protected critical infrastructure.
Media
Two People Caught Stealing Copper from a Missoula Hospital Building
KGVO, 09/28/2022
Nebraska
Media
To come.
Nevada
Media
Metal Thieves Are Stripping America’s Cities
The New York Times, 07/09/2024
- “In Las Vegas and surrounding communities, more than 970,000 feet of electrical wiring, the equivalent of 184 miles, have gone missing from streetlights over the past two years.”
New Jersey
Media
To come.
New Mexico
Media
To come.
New York
Media
Alleged Binghamton Copper Thief Causing Outages for Spectrum Customers
WIVT, 08/01/2024
- A copper thief caused multiple internet and cable TV outages in Binghamton, New York. Spectrum crews had to replace wiring that had been cut off a utility pole – which caused an internet outage at the Boys and Girls Club.
North Carolina
Laws & Regulations
North Carolina requires that a seller provide the physical address where they obtained the property, the date when the seller obtained the property and the license plate number, make, model, and color of the delivery vehicle.
Ohio
Laws & Regulations
To come.
Pennsylvania
Media
Residents Left Without Internet After $10k In Copper Stolen in Clearfield County
WTAJ, 08/12/2024
- Residents in Pike Township were left without phone and internet after $10,000 worth of copper wire was cut from utility poles.
South Carolina
Media
Residents Left Without Internet After $10k In Copper Stolen in Clearfield County
WTAJ, 08/12/2024
- Residents in Pike Township were left without phone and internet after $10,000 worth of copper wire was cut from utility poles.
Tennessee
Media
Stolen Copper Wire Leaves Neighborhood Without Internet
WREG Memphis, 03/07/2024
- “Residents in Memphis went weeks without internet due to copper theft. One resident said, “We are around here without internet, and you know how things are set up now when your internet is down, you are pretty much dead in the house.” AT&T told authorities that more than $18,000 worth of copper had been stolen.”
10 Face Wire Theft Charges in Hamilton County; Authorities Say They Vandalized Phone Lines for Copper
News Channel 9, 11/27/2023
- “The investigation found that these ten individuals brazenly cut live AT&T and Charter Communications wiring off poles, burn the plastic off the wiring, and sell the copper at area scrap yards.”
Texas
Local Task Forces
Dallas
- The City of Dallas enacted a law requiring scrap metal dealers to collect seller information prior to purchase.
- The Dallas Police Department has dedicated resources to the investigation of metal-theft driven offenses.
Ft. Worth
- The City of Ft. Worth enacted a law requiring scrap metal dealers to collect seller information prior to purchase.
- The Fort Worth Police Department’s Metal Task Force has dedicated resources to the investigation of metal-theft driven offenses.
Media
Up to $5K Reward Offered After Spectrum Lines ‘Intentionally Cut’ in North Austin Neighborhood
KXAN, 03/04/2025
Protecting Critical Communications Infrastructure: The Impacts of Copper Wire Theft: Communications Outages
Spectrum News Texas InFocus, 12/15/2024
Protecting Critical Communications Infrastructure: The Impacts of Copper Wire Theft: Police Response
Spectrum News Texas InFocus, 12/15/2024
Protecting Critical Communications Infrastructure: The Impacts of Copper Wire Theft: Repairing the Damage
Spectrum News Texas InFocus, 12/15/2024
Vandalism And Theft at Lower Valley Water District Leave Horizon Residents Dry
KFOX 14, 09/21/2024
- “The water company that services Horizon City said vandalism left residents without water. According to the Lower Valley Water District, someone broke seven valve boxes Thursday night leaving some Horizon residents without water. Officials with the water company added that whoever vandalized the valve boxes also stole the brass and copper equipment.”
Copper Thefts Blamed for Extended AT&T Outages in Two Tarrant County Communities
NBC 5 DFW, 08/27/2024
Copper Theft Crisis in North Texas: Elderly Residents Left Without Landlines
CBS News, 08/23/2024
- “Copper theft is a significant problem in North Texas. One Dallas woman said it’s gotten so bad that the copper phone lines in her neighborhood are repeatedly stolen, leaving her without a landline. At 78, Daisy Joe said she doesn’t want a cell phone but has no other choice but to carry one.”
Copper Thieves Risk Lives and Cut Cables in Brazen Daytime Thefts
News4SA, 08/22/2024
- “Police are seeing a disturbing trend – copper thieves risking their lives to steal utility lines and leaving residents without internet.”
Copper Thieves Caught on Camera ‘risking Death’ To Steal Utility Lines in North Texas
WFAA, 08/20/2024
Customers in South Dallas Losing Service After Thieves Steal Copper Cables
NBC, 06/30/2024
- “He is concerned that thieves have been knocking out essential services to his neighborhood. Terry said that his son has had to stop working from home since the outages began. “It controls my alarm system, it controls, Wi-Fi controls everything in the house basically,” said Terry. “So when it goes down, you can’t watch TV, the alarm system doesn’t work, you can’t use the computer.””
AT&T Service Restored at Austin Airport After Suspected Vandalism
CBS Austin, 06/28/2024
Dallas Residents Catch Copper Wire Thieves on Camera
WFAA, 05/08/2024
Authorities Working to Fight Copper Wire Theft and Vandalism Rising In Houston
ABC 13 News, 02/28/2024
- “In a joint press conference Wednesday, ABC13 learned from [the Houston Police Department] that there have been 38 reported cases in the last 12 months. But there are possibly more cases as they are continuously being reported.”
2-Week AT&T Outage in South Texas Hits Local Businesses After Copper Theft
Data Center Dynamics, 01/08/2024
4 Suspects Stole $20,000 Worth of Copper Wire They Pulled from Underground, Police Say
KSAT News, 10/27/2023
- This was prevalent last weekend in San Antonio as thieves stripped a school of most of its copper wiring. As KSAT-TV reported “thieves cut through thick copper wiring inside an electric box on the back of the building, but got their biggest haul from the rooftop. It is estimated the criminals stole as much as 500 feet of copper wiring.” This was the third time the school has been targeted.
Houston-Area Businesses Without Power After Thieves Steal Copper Wire Off Utility Pole
ABC News 13, 01/04/2023
Washington
Media
Thieves Turn Copper Into Gold
National Insurance Crime Bureau
- “In Washington State, copper thefts near Seattle-Tacoma International Airport disabled the approach lighting for one of the airport’s runways.”
Copper Theft Leaves West Seattle Business Without Phone Service
NBC News K5, 07/23/2024
- A manager at Sea-Pac Transportation Services LLC said their company has lost millions of dollars because their phone lines have been down for three weeks.
Copper Wire Thieves Knock Out Phone and Internet Services for Hundreds of Customers
KOMO News, 07/10/2024
Theft Drops Dramatically with New Law Hawaiian Telecom Gets Hit with Seventh Instance of Copper Theft
Fierce Network, 04/25/2014
- “Similar to other states like West Virginia, Hawaii established a law that copper theft of one pound or more is a Class C felony. Other states, including Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky and Washington, have developed similar laws to help curb copper theft. Frontier Communications reported that due to the passing of the West Virginia copper theft law, incidents dropped between 2011 and 2012.”
West Virginia
Laws & Regulations
In 2024, the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, working in conjunction with the West Virginia State Police, the Charleston Police Department, the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, and the Boone County Sheriff’s Office, targeted and investigated two recycling centers, resulting in multiple arrests and a significant decrease in cable theft activity.
Media
Theft Drops Dramatically with New Law Hawaiian Telecom Gets Hit with Seventh Instance of Copper Theft
Fierce Network, 04/25/2014
- “Similar to other states like West Virginia, Hawaii established a law that copper theft of one pound or more is a Class C felony. Other states, including Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky and Washington, have developed similar laws to help curb copper theft. Frontier Communications reported that due to the passing of the West Virginia copper theft law, incidents dropped between 2011 and 2012.”
