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3,700 POUNDS OF COPPER STOLEN
Wire stolen primarily from AT&T communication lines
copper wire
Photo courtesy of the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office Part of the 3,700 pounds of stolen copper wire recovered by the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.

The San Joaquin County Sherriff’s Office is getting serious about copper wire theft.

Last month – just weeks after San Joaquin County Sheriff Pat Withrow declared open season on copper wire thieves that have become so brazen that they’ve taken out the communication wires to 911 dispatch centers – the agency’s Community Revitalization Unit began dismantling the network of thieves they’ve been working to identify and stop.

As part of the investigation late last month the team conducted three traffic stops, took four people into custody, served a search warrant, and recovered more than 3,700 pounds of stolen copper wire – much it from telecommunications giant AT&T.

Thieves have tended to target telecommunication wires because of the amount of copper that they contain – each section contains 100 pairs of copper wire that are all joined together. Once cut, those wires must be rejoined by hand before service can be restored to an area – creating a hidden cost in not just the wire that needs to be replaced, but the manpower and expertise needed to carry out the repairs.

All of those costs are ultimately passed back to the subscribers of the service that was impacted.

While losing internet or phone connectivity in our modern world for any length of time is a major inconvenience for many, it has also become a public safety issue after numerous instances where 911 calls were interrupted because thieves had targeted the cables that serve the complexes where the calls are fielded.

Numerous law enforcement agencies throughout the area have had to resort to posting other phone numbers if they were available, or having those who need assistance call other police dispatch centers who then route the information to officers in the field until the line is mended – creating additional layers that have to be cleared under emergency conditions.

While the bust last month was another feather in the cap of law enforcement, it’s far from the last time that the agency plans to take thieves out of commission.

“This investigation is ongoing, and we can assure victims and law breakers alike, we are not done yet,” the agency said in the statement announcing the operation and its successes. “Standby for more!”

To contact Bulletin reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.