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Calgary police arrested four people accused of copper wire thefts targeting telecommunications cables in two incidents — and they say one of those charged was involved in both incidents, mere days apart.
On Aug. 21, a witness called police about a red SUV with a tow strap attached to something in a manhole on the 3900 block of Edmonton Trail N.E..
Police showed up and arrested a man and two women.
Then, three days later, around the same time in the morning, and not too far away, a similar call came: a suspicious vehicle, near a manhole on the 4000 block of Edmonton Trail N.E.
This time when police arrived, they found a man in the manhole, and one of the women from the first incident asleep in the vehicle — plus about seven metres of cut telecommunications cable on the ground.
Acting Staff Sgt. Corey Der says it’s a pattern police are seeing, with networks of people committing this type of theft again and again.
“They’re bringing a friend, they’re bringing a couple of friends,” Der said. “It’s organized groups of persons going around committing multiple instances like this, of copper wire damage and theft.”
The suspects face charges including theft and mischief, and for one, possession of fentanyl and methamphetamine.
Thefts a growing concern
Copper telecommunications wires have become an increasing target in recent years for criminals looking to sell the valuable commodity for profit.
Bell has seen a 78 per cent increase so far in 2026, compared to this time last year. For Telus, it’s been a 102 per cent spike year-over-year.
Copper wire pictured after a theft in Halifax. (Robert Short/CBC)
Alberta Senator Paula Simons studied the issue earlier this year on a Senate committee. She says in some ways, people might view it as a victimless crime.
“People feel like, well, the telcos and the big electrical companies, they have lots of money, what could it hurt?” Simons told CBC Radio’s Calgary Eyeopener earlier this month. “But of course, the danger is very real.”
When the cables are cut, often so are fibre optic lines, and Der says the effects are cascading, potentially knocking out service to thousands of Calgarians. It can leave businesses in the lurch and residents without communication access, proving dangerous if they need to call 911.
Earlier this month, copper wire thieves caused damage to fibre optic lines, leaving some Rogers customers without phone or internet.
And fixing it is no easy feat.
“Repairing the resulting damage is often complex, costly, and time-consuming, extending the impact on customers and communities long after the theft has occurred,” a Bell spokesperson said.
In a statement, Telus said it’s taken a number of preventive measures, including adding alarms, fencing, cameras and special barriers.
Last month, the federal government passed Bill C-14, which among other things strengthened sentences for theft and damage to critical infrastructure.
Alberta is a hotspot for these thefts, according to Eric Smith, senior vice president of the Canadian Telecommunications Association. To him, the recent arrests in Calgary represent a positive step: the fact that local residents made the call to police.
“We’ve been asking communities across Canada, you know the old saying, if you see something, say something,” Smith said. “Because police can’t be everywhere, telecommunications companies can’t monitor their entire network that runs for, you know, thousands and thousands of kilometres.”
Der echoes the call for the public to call police if they see suspicious activity. And he hopes word travels through organized groups that police are taking these thefts seriously.
“We want to make the statement known that hey, if you’re going to commit crimes like this, we’re going to put all the resources of the Calgary Police Service behind catching you, arresting you, and putting you before the judicial system.”