Wine Country cut off from rest of America after string of brazen copper wire thefts
Copper wire thefts in Sonoma County have disrupted phone and internet services for residents across several rural communities, leaving some without connectivity for up to two weeks. Authorities have not identified any suspects and are urging the public to report suspicious activity, particularly around utility poles at night. The thefts, which have cost AT&T $32 million statewide this year, are part of a broader trend affecting areas like Los Angeles, where similar crimes are driving up infrastructure costs.
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Metro Wine Country cut off from rest of America after string of brazen copper wire thefts By Nina Joudeh Published April 29, 2026, 12:57 p.m. ET Copper thieves have been slicing through rural Sonoma County, cutting down power lines and stealing wiring from AT&T-owned utility poles in a crime spree that has left residents without phone and internet service for as long as two weeks. According to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, deputies began documenting widespread copper wire thefts in February across Sebastopol, Graton, Forestville, Petaluma, and other rural areas, triggering major service disruptions for nearby communities. 4 Deputies began documenting widespread copper wire thefts in February across Sebastopol, Graton, Forestville, Petaluma, and other rural areas.
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