The world is connected by copper. It's a huge target for thieves
Copper wire theft has surged in the United States, driven by rising copper prices. AT&T has reported over 10,400 incidents of theft nationwide, with a significant concentration in California. The theft not only costs companies thousands in repairs but also disrupts services for customers relying on copper networks.
- ▪The value of copper has roughly doubled in the past year, leading to increased thefts.
- ▪AT&T recorded more than 10,400 incidents of copper wire theft nationwide last year.
- ▪Thieves often cut copper cables from phone lines and infrastructure, causing significant damage.
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Business The world is connected by copper. It's a huge target for thieves June 3, 20265:00 AM ET John Ruwitch An AT&T crew installs a new cable at a railroad crossing in Hayward, Calif., after the segment got cut down by suspected copper wire thieves. John Ruwitch/NPR hide caption toggle caption John Ruwitch/NPR Stay up to date with our Up First newsletter sent every weekday morning. HAYWARD, Calif. – In an industrial yard off a highway east of San Francisco, AT&T workers crowd around cold, hard evidence of a growing problem. "Sitting here [is] a truck full of what is stolen copper cable," says Todd Swensen, from AT&T's construction and engineering division. The jumble of cables and wires, about the size of a truck tire, was recovered from a metal recycler.
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