Embarq offers reward to find copper thieves

WARREN — Embarq is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of anyone stealing the company’s live traffic-carrying copper cable.

Carolyn Angelotti, Embarq public affairs manager, said there have been several instances over the last month when copper cable was stolen.

Officials believe the stolen cable is burned into scrap metal and sold to metal dealers.

Warren police Detective Justin Soroka said these dealers don’t know if the metal is stolen or not.

He said people go up the poles and steal the Embarq cables, and people driving by may think it’s just a cable person up on the pole.

Angelotti said people should look for the Embarq logo on the vehicle and if one does not exist, call the police.

She said when the cable is stolen, it can cause up to thousands of residents or businesses to be without service. “It is a threat to the community,” she said.

Soroka said this is a serious problem and police need people to help. “We need more eyes and ears on this problem,” he said.

Embarq is looking forward to the passage of Ohio Senate Bill 171 sponsored by Columbus Sen. Steve Stivers. It would mandate that scrap metal dealers must log purchases they make from sellers, and only buy from those who provide government-issued photo identification.