TELUS has experienced a 68 percent increase in cable thefts from across Canada from January to July.
In July, there were 11 copper thefts in B.C. with four occurring in Prince George in just over a week.
Anne Martin , the vice-president of networking and operations says the broad pattern of attacks on essential infrastructure can include emergency services and impacts to wireless internet.
“These thieves are being really sophisticated and are going to pretty extreme lengths to get this cable whether its scaling bridges or climbing towers and going down manholes. They are looking like legitimate workers, we have seen them wear workers clothing wearing hardhats – they are becoming pretty brazen in acquiring this type of cable.”
“They are compromising people’s ability to reach emergency phone services and customers can’t call through their landlines and are unable to access emergency services, many of which are vulnerable customers. They can eliminate an entire neighbourhoods ability to call for help.”
Martin added the incidents disrupt wire line voice services, Internet and Optik TV among others.
“The problem is obviously getting worse. We have seen a very dramatic increase in Prince George alone and if we want it to get better we need to work together with government and law enforcement and we need stiffer penalties and stiffer enforcement.”
“This can affect businesses as well not being able to fulfil purchases and students trying to complete their online classes so its pretty dramatic.”
The company stated repair times are often extended due to the nature of the damage and complexity of replacing legacy copper infrastructure.
She believes the punishment doesn’t fit the crime as offenders are often charged with theft under $5,000, which is the equivalent of stealing a bike.
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