Copper wire thefts cut off internet, phone service

Authorities in Cumberland County are searching for multiple people accused of stealing copper wires from Cumberland County.

According to the internet provider Brightspeed, 77 thefts have occurred since May. The wires are essential for providing internet and phone access.

While the wires are only worth a few dollars, the repairs cost tens of thousands of dollars and can take days.

“I’ve been here 34 years, we’ve never had this issue,” Mark WIlliams of Brightspeed said.

Williams said the thefts are not just a headache for technicians. There is also a risk that customers who depend on landlines could be cut off from service.

“They’re knocking [out] subdivisions from being able to call 911. If they don’t have cell service [and] now they don’t have a landline? They’re stuck,” he explained.

Williams said the internet provider is doing what they can to mitigate the impact and trying to reroute from the boxes and aerial lines the thieves are targeting.

Brightspeed said not all the thefts have been in Fayetteville and have hit surrounding counties and municipalities.

Williams said the company is doing what it can to fight back and adding security measures is getting results.

“We’re using a lot more surveillance,” he said. “We’ve had two people arrested here today [and] we had two people arrested last month.”

The four arrests were all caught on camera.

WRAL News reached out to police in Raleigh and Durham to see if they have noticed an increase in copper thefts.

Raleigh police said they have not seen a spike.

WRAL News is waiting to hear from Durham police.