AT&T suffers a 3,000% increase in copper theft, $20,000 reward up for grabs
This AT&T announcement, however, tells a story so thrilling, it's hard to ignore. It's authored by AT&T California President Susan Santana. According to her, California is grappling with a surge in copper wire theft and infrastructure vandalism that is endangering public safety and disrupting essential connectivity. The carrier reports a dramatic rise in incidents, with more than 2,200 cases of copper theft recorded across the state in 2024, compared to just 71 in 2021. I loved math back in high school, but I needed a calculator for this one: that's a ~3,000% surge in the last three years.
These crimes have caused significant damage by disabling streetlights, cutting off phone and broadband services, and generating repair costs that reach into the millions. In response, AT&T is partnering with government officials, businesses, and community leaders to find solutions and protect customers who are often the most affected. In June, Santana joined California Attorney General Rob Bonta in Los Angeles for a community roundtable focused on this issue. The gathering brought together over 40 representatives from 26 organizations to discuss the widespread impact of copper theft and explore strategies to strengthen enforcement and prevent future crimes. Renita Pettigrew, AT&T 's Assistant Vice President of Construction & Engineering, contributed to the conversation by outlining how theft and vandalism undermine infrastructure and disrupt access to critical services.
To combat these crimes, AT&T has introduced a statewide reward program of up to $20,000 for actionable information that leads to arrests and convictions connected to copper cable theft or the sale and purchase of stolen copper. So, here's your chance to win the reward: if you have valuable information, maybe don't hesitate to share it with the authorities.
– Susan Santana, AT&T California President, July 2025
Residents are urged to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, such as unmarked vehicles or individuals cutting and removing cables. Reports can be made to local law enforcement or AT&T Global Security at (800) 807-4205. AT&T 's reward offer is valid for leads submitted through February 1, 2026.
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