Verizon offers $50K reward in copper thefts
A $50,000 reward is being offered by Verizon for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the person responsible for the theft of copper telephone cable in Washington County.
Since Jan. 29, more than 9,000 feet of copper cable has been stolen and more than $62,500 in damage done. The most recent theft was March 29, when 3,000 feet of cable was stolen from poles on Hanlin Station Road and Bartleyville Road in Jefferson Township.
Other thefts were reported on Francis Mine Road, Creek Lane and Eldersville Road., all in Jefferson; Turkey Hollow, King’s Creek, Aunt Clair, Purdy, Francis Mine and Hanlin Station roads, all in Hanover Township; First Street and Meadowcroft Road in Avella and Bertha and Plum Run roads in Smith Township. Cable also was reported stolen Jan. 22 at 110 Beham Ridge Road, East Finley Township.
“Our biggest concern is the impact on public safety with the unnecessary loss of service,” said Lee Gierczynski, manager of media relations for Verizon. “These thefts have been an ongoing problem for a number of years.”
Hundreds of local Verizon customers experienced servce delays for up to several days in some cases.
Anyone with information about the crimes is asked to contact Verizon Security at 1-800-997-3287; state police at 412-787-2000 or Smith police at 724-947-5069.