Someone's been stealing telephone pole wires in Meigs County

A telephone pole.
A telephone pole.

AT&T officials are offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the vandalism and theft of the phone company's aeriel copper telephone cables in Meigs County.

Company officials say 14,305 lineal feet of cables weighing an estimated 2,594 pounds have been stolen since April.

Officials say the rising market for copper "has led some people to extreme measures, including stealing copper cables from houses and telephone poles."

The $1,000 reward offer expires Nov. 1.

"Our local citizens depend on telecommunications for so many things, especially in emergencies," Meigs County Mayor Bill James said in the phone company release. "Copper theft is a serious problem and law enforcement needs our help to put a stop to copper theft."

It is a felony under federal law to tamper with phone lines the public uses to place emergency calls or to request emergency assistance.

"AT&T is taking this matter very seriously," AT&T Tennessee regional director Alan Hill said. "We are working with local law enforcement to ensure that those responsible for the crimes are apprehended and punished."

AT&T officials say metal theft costs businesses nationally around one billion dollars each year, including hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage. It can also impact public safety by compromising communications or emergency response capabilities like 911 service.

AT&T is working with law enforcement agencies and scrap metal dealers in the City of Decatur and Meigs County to catch those responsible for several thefts that have occurred in the past several weeks.

Officials urge anyone with information about the vandalism of lines and theft of copper to contact the Meigs County Sheriff's Office at 423-334-5268 or AT&T Asset Protection at 1-800-807-4205.

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