By Daniel L. Bamberg
According to sources at AT&T someone has been stealing copper from their underground lines in the Bibb County area. On Thursday, March 10th AT&T announced a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for these thefts.
Media spokeswoman for the major communications company, Sue Sperry explained that the combination of a weakened economy and a steady rise in the copper market value may be leading people to take extreme measures. This is not only including thefts of copper underground but from inside homes and from telephone poles.
“AT&T is working with law enforcement agencies and scrap metal dealers in Bibb County to catch those responsible for multiple thefts, including a theft that took place this week,” said Sperry on Thursday. “AT&T urges shop owners, employees and anyone else with information of these recent copper thefts to contact the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at (205)-926-4683 in order to help the investigation process and possibly claim the reward.”
Damage to telecommunications equipment is a felony punishable by incarceration and fines.
According to Sperry some of the things that one may come across which could be a theft in action is when it appears someone is working on the rights of way near telephone poles without a vehicle baring the logo of AT&T or other utility companies such as Alabama Power or Alagasco. Sperry explains that in rural areas if one notices the scent of burning rubber or plastic this could be a copper line thief burning the covering of these lines down to the bare copper.
Sperry expressed that only one reward will be given per person who calls in a tip that leads to an arrest and conviction. She stressed that individuals cannot receive additional reward money for multiple tips or multiple convictions. The reward offer expires on April 1, 2001.
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