NORTH TEXAS – Copper theft is a significant problem in North Texas. One Dallas woman said it has gotten so bad that the copper phone lines in her neighborhood keep getting stolen, leaving her without a landline.
Daisy Joe, 78, said she doesn’t want a cell phone but has no choice but to carry one.
“I don’t want to sound old-fashioned, but every time I have to press this thing to turn it on, all kinds of junk pops up,” she said. “Stuff I don’t want to see, and then I have to swipe over it and type in my code just to get to the keyboard.”
She prefers a landline, but said she hasn’t had one about once every six months for the past three years because of copper thieves in her neighborhood east of White Rock Lake.
The most recent incident occurred just over two weeks ago.
“It really affects my life because at my age … I’m a cancer patient in recovery. I have neuropathy,” she said. “I’m scared if I fall and there’s no one there but me, I don’t know what could happen.”
Currently, copper theft is an ongoing problem in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Earlier this week, Garland police reported that criminals are bringing their own equipment, even wearing fake hard hats and vests, and climbing utility poles to cut and sell copper wires.
Joe said she has contacted AT&T repeatedly to resolve her issue.
“They say once they put it in, they steal it,” she said. “Isn’t there anything you can do about it?”
In a statement, AT&T said:
“This customer was without reception due to repeated copper thefts in the area. Theft and vandalism of critical communications infrastructure are serious matters that impact important services to our customers, public safety, and the community as a whole. We are actively working with local law enforcement to find those responsible.”
“Repair times and costs vary considerably from incident to incident and depend on a number of factors, including the type of copper stolen, the quantity taken and the location from which it was stolen.
“We are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for specific and detailed information leading to the arrest and conviction of copper wire theft or attempted sale or purchase of stolen AT&T copper wire in the Dallas area. Tipsters with information may remain anonymous and should call local law enforcement or AT&T Global Security and Investigations at (800) 807-4205. The reward is for tips received by November 1, 2024. The public should report to police any unmarked (non-AT&T) vehicles or individuals cutting and removing wire.
“Maintaining uninterrupted, high-quality service to our customers is our top priority. Copper cable usage is declining rapidly. The equipment that supports our copper network is harder to source, so it’s difficult to repair or replace the parts if the cables are stolen. We continue to upgrade our customers to newer, more reliable technologies such as fiber optic and wireless where possible.”
Erin Jones
