Verizon Offers Reward For Information In Copper Cable Thefts
HANOVER TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- You could get $50,000 if you know who is stealing copper telephone cables in Washington and Lawrence Counties.
Verizon is offering the reward because it says the thefts are a threat to public safety.
"It's just ridiculous. They can't keep our phones on," said Kathy Toward, of Hanover Township, Washington County. "Our phone goes out all the time around here because of the copper thefts."
Verizon says since the first of the year, they've seen six thefts of the copper telephone cable in Lawrence County. They've seen seven thefts in Washington County.
The latest one happened last Friday on a remote road where 3,000 feet of cable was swiped.
"They're very brazen," said Verizon spokesperson Lee Gierczynski. "They're taking these cables using saws and bolt cutters."
Verizon says each time it happens dozens, sometimes hundreds, of people lose their phone service.
"We're very concerned about this because if somebody loses their phone service and then they have an emergency, and they pick up their phone they have no dial tone, then that's a serious problem," said Gierczynski.
The Verizon reward is for information that leads to an arrest and prosecution of the people responsible.
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