Police: Overhead Copper Phone Lines Stolen Near State Line

January 21, 2024

Police are investigating after someone stole overhead copper phone lines from a pole near the Alabama-Florida state line last week.

The AT&T phone lines were stolen on Tulip Street, just feet from the state line, according to the Flomaton Police Department. Police said there have been other similar thefts recently.

Anyone with information is asked to call Flomaton Police Investigator Smith at (251) 296-5811.

Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

9 Responses to “Police: Overhead Copper Phone Lines Stolen Near State Line”

  1. sam on January 23rd, 2024 10:59 am

    gotta be desperate and hard up for chump change. at&t know where the places are that pay for this stuff. better be careful.

  2. Eric M on January 21st, 2024 10:12 pm

    This stuff is easy to process. I melt aluminum and copper in the back yard. Graphite crucible, charcoal and a leaf blower. 1st time I tried melting copper, for the fun of it, I melted a solid cast iron Dutch oven. I believe that’s 2600 degrees, give or take.

    Point is, these thieves can melt this down and sell copper ingots.

  3. Steve on January 21st, 2024 8:08 pm

    If it has value somebody out there is trying to steal it .

  4. Dave on January 21st, 2024 3:29 pm

    Yep, they’ve been at for a while all over Escambia Co Al. Appleton rd, Wallace rd, wild fork rd. Apparently AT&T is abandoning them in place as none have been replaced. Almost no one is using land lines anymore.

  5. Retired phone guy on January 21st, 2024 2:51 pm

    Probably 2 or 3 customers out of service. 50 pair cable. Not a lot of copper there once you remove the poly and aluminum sheath. Use to be scrap yards wouldn’t buy it anyway. Phone company recycled all they removed so didn’t see it any local scrapyards.

  6. Sedition on January 21st, 2024 2:09 pm

    Had an elderly neighbor almost get electrocuted washing dishes a few years ago. Some punk stole the copper earth ground off of her house.
    Before attempting this, ask yourself…is it worth the possibility of getting caught and staring down the business end of a 12 gauge?

  7. Justsaying on January 21st, 2024 10:44 am

    Should have went up a span or two.

    No, if they would have done that, then they would have sued someone!

  8. phoneman on January 21st, 2024 10:33 am

    They’ve been at this for around 18 months. 50-60 cables have been stolen, totaling damages probably over 1 million by now. They’re still at it

  9. Oversight on January 21st, 2024 9:07 am

    Not rocket science as these thieves have to pedal their plunder at second hand metal dealers to convert stolen copper into cash. Now go track ‘em down!