A wave of copper wire thefts is disrupting communication services and impacting daily life for residents in Hacienda Heights, Los Angeles. Over the past several months, thieves targeting utility poles and city infrastructure have left many residents without landline phone service, creating safety concerns and unexpected expenses.
Image: Thieves targeting city infrastructure for copper. (Garland Police Department)
Senior residents like 79-year-old Michael Weiner have been without a dial tone for six months, yet continue to receive bills from Frontier Communications. The lack of communication from the company regarding repairs has added to the frustration. Weiner expressed concern about emergency situations, stating, "We live in a kind of a fire zone... If there's a health emergency... it could be a problem if we can't make a phone call."
Frontier Communications acknowledges the ongoing issue, with Vice President of External Affairs Doug McAllister admitting, "We've had so much cable theft we're running out of copper. What happens is when we get it shipped to us, we put it up, we turn our backs and it's gone again."
To combat the thefts, Frontier is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators. Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis has also pledged a $20,000 reward, emphasizing her commitment to supporting law enforcement's efforts.
Image: Residents impacted by the copper theft crisis. (Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The prolonged service disruption has prompted some residents, like 65-year-old Diana Arnold, to switch providers. She highlighted the importance of landlines, stating, "It's not just a landline, it's a lifeline."
The high value of copper, fetching up to $4 per pound, fuels this criminal activity. The impact extends beyond residential areas, as evidenced by the temporary closure of Glen A. Wilson High School last month due to a power outage caused by copper theft. Assistant Superintendent John Lovato stressed the detrimental effect on education, saying, "This theft is severely impacting student learning and programs."
Image: Telephone poles targeted by copper thieves. (Photo by Bob Riha, Jr./Getty Images)
The copper theft problem plagues other cities as well, including Oakland, where traffic lights were removed at a major intersection due to tampering.
