Book em! Arrest made in Frontier copper wiring theft case

Although theft of copper phone wire happens all too frequently, arresting perpetrators--who often commit crimes in out-of-reach areas at odd hours--is challenging. But West Virginia State Police on July 29 arrested three people and have issued arrest warrants for four more individuals in connection with the theft of copper phone wiring from Frontier Communications. The three suspects face multiple felony charges and are being held on bail.

“Frontier wants this vandalism stopped,” a Frontier spokeswoman told Connected Planet. “It’s a great inconvenience to customers and public safety and we’re committing company resources to stop it.” When phone lines and Internet connectivity are put out of service by phone line vandalism, customers lose 911 capability, creating a public safety risk, she said.

Frontier is “cooperating fully” with the West Virginia State Police, the company said in a press release. In the release the company also said the suspects could possibly face federal charges based on violations of laws pertaining to Homeland Security, interstate commerce and environmental protection.

The Frontier spokeswoman declined to provide details about the theft, instead referring questions to the West Virginia Police, where the arresting officer was not available for comment. The Frontier spokeswoman also said the theft was unrelated to the company’s efforts to increase the availability of broadband service in West Virginia.

In the press release, Frontier said it also was “putting recyclers and scrap dealers who deal in telecommunications materials on notice that they could also be subject to arrest and conviction for receiving stolen property, as well as aiding and abetting network vandalism.”