CLEARFIELD COUNTY – Pennsylvania State Police at Clearfield are facing a growing issue as they investigate a series of copper thefts within Clearfield County. The thefts have caused significant damage to the communication infrastructure in the affected areas and have left customers without service.
The incidents, according to a news release from the police station, started around March 2 when unknown individuals cut two aerial cables, one copper, and one fiber, on Douglas Road in Knox Township. The copper cable was then stolen.
Since then, there have been several more incidents where aerial copper cables have been cut and stolen. One such incident occurred on April 6 near Curwensville Tyrone Highway in Pike Township, and another on April 19 on Zion Road in Knox Township. The most recent incident took place on April 26 on Dupree Road in Decatur Township.
The thefts have not only caused communication outages but have also affected critical services such as 911, police, fire/rescue, and healthcare facilities. The final repair costs for these incidents are expected to exceed $50,000.
Pennsylvania State Police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the individuals responsible for these thefts. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Clearfield barracks at 814-857-3800.
The community is urged to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity near communication poles or cables to prevent further thefts and damage to the infrastructure.