Hundreds cut off after cable theft (From Witney Gazette)

Hundreds cut off after cable theft

9:30am Friday 30th July 2010

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HUNDREDS of homes have had their phone lines cut off, after thieves stole almost a mile of copper wire.

BT customers in Eynsham lost their telephone and internet connections when 1,600 metres of wire was taken on Monday night.

The theft in Stanton Harcourt Road came hours before BT launched a scheme in Oxfordshire to combat a surge in copper theft.

Homes in Stanton Harcourt are also thought to have been affected by the theft.

The crime follows a number of thefts around the county, including a bungled raid in March, in which thieves cut through two cables, severing connections to 2,800 homes in and around Oxford’s Botley Road.

Contractors were last night still trying to fix the problem and temporary traffic lights have been installed because of disruption.

BT said cable theft cost the company millions of pounds a year and insisted it was doing everything it could to find the culprets.

One customer, who asked not to be named, said: “It is absolutely ridiculous; they have caused havoc. I work from home, so a landline and internet connection are absolutely vital to me. I have been able to do nothing since.

“These thieves are incredibly irresponsible and their greed has caused no end of problems. I hope they get caught and justice is done.”

BT spokesman Emma Littlejohn said: “We are talking about a major theft here – hundreds of metres of cable were stolen.

“We know of many customers affected, but there could be lots more because some may be away or have not reported it.

“Our engineers are working around the clock to get it fixed, but it is a large operation because every home has to be re-attached to the new cable.

“We are doing everything in our power to find those responsible.”

Police spokesman Rebecca Webber said the investigation remained ongoing.”

Bernie Auguste, head of security for BT’s network business Openreach, said: “Cable theft, which has been more prevalent in the South East than many other parts of the UK, affects not only us as a business, but all the people across the region who rely on access to phones and broadband.

“Members of the public can help by being our eyes and ears and reporting anything suspicious to the police.”

The price of new copper has more than doubled since 2008 to £5,426 a tonne. Scrap copper is worth about £1,400 a tonne. The value of the copper stolen from Eynsham was not known.

Any information to police on 08458 505 505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

• A new BT scheme, SmartWater, will see all copper wire coated in an invisible paint which is unique to each location – allowing police to identify exactly where wire has come from.

The liquid will be used to mark the outer shell and inner core of cable, along with tools and other equipment.

Trap devices which spray thieves with the liquid will also be installed in hot spots across Oxfordshire, meaning criminals will carry evidence on their skin and clothing.

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