Copper telephone wire theft under investigation

Copper theft is common, considering the profit that can be made.

By Nicole Thompson

Published Dec. 4, 2009

The Boone County Sheriff's Department is investigating the theft of 200 feet of copper wire from a Columbia telephone line.

Columbia residents began making calls at 5:30 a.m. Monday to CenturyLink telephone service reporting problems with their service, a Sheriff's Department news release stated. A crew was sent to investigate and found a 200-foot section of copper wire removed from a service line in the area of S. Brock Rodgers Road and Ponderosa Street, the news release stated.

The copper wire was removed from between two poles located in a wooded area between Brock Rodgers and Gans roads. The line was not removed from the ground, the news release stated. Sheriff's Department Detective Tom O'Sullivan said the thief must have climbed up to the telephone wire to get it down.

"Sounds like whoever did this was someone who was familiar with phone lines," O'Sullivan said. "They would have had to use the ladder to access the phone lines."

The Sheriff's Department is looking into a few leads but has not yet made any arrests, O'Sullivan said. The department has also spoken with residents in the area of the crime. No one seems to have seen anything suspicious, O'Sullivan said.

The theft occurred sometime between Sunday night and 5:30 a.m. Monday, the news release stated. Service was restored Monday afternoon, CenturyLink Public Relations Manager Greg Gaffke said. He estimates less than 500 customers, both residential and business, were affected.

The cost to restore telephone service is estimated to be $15,000, the news release stated. O'Sullivan said the telephone company would bear the cost.

CenturyLink bears the direct financial burden, but this crime might also affect customers, Gaffke said.

"When we have to repair and replace stolen lines, that could have a domino effect down to the customer," Gaffke said. "We may not be able to provide new equipment in the long run if that happens."

Copper theft is a common crime, O'Sullivan said. Thieves steal copper not only from telephone wires, but off of buildings as well. It is something criminals can profit from, O'Sullivan said.

"Copper has always been fairly expensive," O'Sullivan said.

When copper wire is stolen from telephone lines, all services running through that wire are shut down, Gaffke said. This includes telephone, Internet and the ability to make emergency calls.

"A lot of perpetrators don't understand that when they steal copper they cut off phone services and cut off emergency services," Gaffke said.

If arrested, the perpetrator could be charged with property damage and theft in this crime, O'Sullivan said. Due to the large value of the stolen wire, both charges would be considered felonies.

"The stealing would be a felony since it's in excess of $500," O'Sullivan said. "More than $750 of property damage in the first degree is a felony."

The Missouri State Senate passed legislation in August 2008 to help control copper theft. The law dictates stricter guidelines for record keeping and the purchasing of scrap metal. According to the law, unlawful purchases of scrap metal, such as copper from telephone lines, are defined as a class B misdemeanor.

A similar incident occurred six to eight weeks ago, Gaffke said. Two sections of copper were stolen from telephone wires on the west side of Columbia north of Interstate 70 near Cosmo Park. More customers were affected in this instance than in Monday's theft, Gaffke said. Gaffke also said he had no way to determine if the two incidents were related.