Copper wires stolen in Abbotsford cut 911 service, internet to 2 neighbourhoods

Some Abbotsford residents are without telephone and net work connected Thursday owed to 2 cablegram thefts.

The archetypal theft happened astatine 5:11 a.m. connected Thursday erstwhile Telus and Rogers cablegram lines were chopped successful the 33500 artifact of Huntingdon Road, Abbotsford constabulary said.

They confirmed crews are connected tract moving connected fixing the lines.

The 2nd theft happened astatine 6 a.m. successful the 4500 artifact of Sumas Mountain Road, astir a 20-minute thrust away.

Abbotsford constabulary said a ample magnitude of Telus cables were chopped successful this country leaving radical without telephone and net work and costing astir $100,000 to fix.

It is not wide if the 2 incidents are connected but Abbotsford constabulary are investigating.

However, these are not isolated incidents.

Sgt. Paul Walker with the Abbotsford Police Department told Global News they started to person reports of ligament thefts successful the metropolis successful October.

“We’re astir apt up to 12 incidents successful our assemblage alone,” helium said. “It’s significant. These thefts, these damages to infrastructure… are things that interaction 911 service, nationalist safety, telephone calls from residents to scope retired to loved ones, home-based businesses.

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“These fixes aren’t putting 2 wires backmost together. They instrumentality a important magnitude of time, wires person to beryllium spliced together.”

Walker said these thefts tin origin outages for days for surrounding residents.

He added that businesses that woody successful scrap metallic should not judge ample amounts of copper ligament and should telephone the constabulary immediately.

Anyone who sees immoderate suspicious enactment astir telecommunication lines oregon poles should telephone the police.