ROBESON TWP., Pa. – “Over the past couple of weeks in the southern end of Robeson Township, we’ve experienced a number of thefts of cable off telephone pole lines,” Robeson Township Police Chief Joseph Brown said.
Police say it’s happened along Schuylkill Road and in the area of Cold Run and Red Hill roads several times.
“People are taking the lines down, and they’re melting them down to get the copper out of them and then selling the copper,” Brown said.
But what they get in terms of money is nowhere near the cost of the damage they leave behind.
“Between the damage that was caused and the replacement cost, it was about 15,000 (dollars) in damage just off that one incident,” Brown said.
Police say they have arrested one person, but more thefts have happened since.
“It’s not just Robeson Township. This is happening all over,” Brown said.
And police say these quiet roads can make it easier.
“We have very remote areas of the township, so it’s easier to go undetected at certain times of day,” Brown said.
So if you see someone on a pole who doesn’t look like a utility worker…
“If you see it, call us right away,” Brown said.
Crime Alert Berks County is offering a reward for information that leads to an arrest.