OAKLAND, Calif. (KRON) — Copper wire thieves are targeting a neighborhood in the Oakland Hills, triggering repeated internet outages for residents.
Watch the full report from KRON4’s Sara Stinson in the video player above.
Photo: KRON4 News.
In the Oakland Hills, crews with AT&T spent Tuesday afternoon repairing damage from yet another round of copper theft. The company says thieves targeted cables along a walking path on Skyline Boulevard near Keller Avenue, cutting both copper and fiber lines.
An AT&T spokesperson confirmed to KRON4 that at least two separate outages were triggered by the cuts on April 15 and 16, each lasting about five hours.
AT&T said police reports have been filed and its global security team is now working with the Oakland Police Department property crimes investigators.
Meanwhile, the motive may be simple. Copper is currently selling for about $4.50 a pound, according to Scrap Monster.
Cameras have been installed on the targeted power poles to catch potential thieves in the act.
KRON4 reached out to the City of Oakland and OPD but did not hear back in time for this report.
AT&T is offering a $20,000 reward for specific information that leads to an arrest and conviction of a copper cable thief or details on anyone who is trying to sell or buy stolen copper cable.
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