Phone lines stolen for 3rd time in NW Atlanta - KMSP-TV

Some residents are upset after copper thieves targeted their neighborhood for the third time. The residents were left without phone and internet service after thieves stole AT&T phone lines along Linkwood Road in northwest Atlanta early Monday.

One man said that he witnessed the thieves in the act.  
    
"It was about four in the morning. I was up and looked out the window and saw the truck it had the flashers on. And I was like, ‘what are these people doing making noise a lot of noise,'" he said. "They were loading up and they were very brazen as if they didn't care."

AT&T crews spent the day replacing the stolen lines. Company officials said that it's the third time in a week and a half that stretch has been hit.  They tell said as soon as phone techs replace the cable, thieves come behind and steal them.

The crime left 2,000 area residents  without phone, television and internet service.

Atlanta police are working with the Fulton County Burglary Task Force, a coalition of local law enforcement agencies, to combat this growing problem, a frustrating crime for AT&T and residents.

"You are affecting thousands of individuals, not just 10, not just 100 -- thousands and that's an issue," said C. Henry Adams.

Residents have noticed more police patrolling their neighborhood, but they won't rest until the bold copper bandits are caught.

"Someone needs to be watching. For some reason, they need some type of security early in the morning because I feel eventually after they get through with this, they are coming into our houses and that's what troubling me the most," said one resident.

AT&T has offered up to a $3,000 in the case. Company officials and the police say they need the public's help to try to get a handle on copper theft.