AT&T offers reward in copper theft cases
Aug 7, 2012, 1:35 PM | Updated: 1:36 pm
TEMPE, Ariz. – AT&T is taking steps to find whoever is stealing copper from its cell sites around the Valley.
The company is offering a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest in any of the thefts.
Copper thieves have victimized 20 cell sites so far this year. The latest was discovered Tuesday morning near Broadway and Priest in Tempe.
“In this instance, they stole the copper plates that we use to ground the electrical wires that ground the site,” said Jerry Fuentes, AT&T’s President for Arizona and New Mexico. “While it didn’t disrupt service, it could have.”
There is actually some good news when it comes to copper thefts in Tempe.
“It’s decreased about 68 percent since last year,” said Tempe Police Sgt. Jeff Glover. “But the thefts are still here. They’re still prevalent as you can see today.”
Anyone with information about the copper thefts is asked to contact AT&T at (800) 807-4205. Fuentes said people can also contact local police.
