Copper thieves slicing telephone lines in North Bay, cutting phone and Wi-Fi service

SEBASTOPOL, Calif. (KGO) — In the North Bay, police say a string of copper wire thefts is leaving some residents without phone or internet. They say brazen thieves are stealing the copper wire from telephone lines. It’s happening in Western Sonoma County where neighbors are now on the lookout.

A dial tone is like music to Bob Hirsch. He’s been without a landline phone and Wi-Fi for the past week.

“We made several calls Tuesday, they said they would have it fixed Friday, on Friday they said they would have it fixed Saturday,” said Hirsch.

Bob learned it wasn’t a quick fix. Thieves cut the phone lines near his house off Bodega Highway in Sebastopol to steal the copper inside.

MORE: Man arrested after cutting 50 ft. of copper wire at South SF Caltrain station, causing $5K in damage

“It’s amazing no one has caught these people, they’re climbing up poles and letting down these huge wires,” he added.

We found AT&T crews working to fix the vandalized lines and it’s not the only spot.

On the south side of town, a small army of repair crews- working to replace more wire which had been cut for the copper off Highway 116.

Dom Gof works at the Wild Poppy Café near one of the telephone pole targets.

MORE: AG Rob Bonta promises to crack down on copper wire thefts plaguing CA

“I know the sheriff cam in yesterday asking about security footage that we might’ve had of the theft, it’s crazy, they’re stealing it in broad daylight I heard,” said Gof.

In a statement, AT&T says :

“Our crews are working as quickly as possible to bring landline phone service back online due to recent copper theft cuts… vandalism of critical communications infrastructure are serious crimes that disrupt service for customers, public safety, and the broader community.”

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department is investigating as copper wire thefts cases continue grow. Last month, the department says it busted two copper wire theft suspects, and another person for operating an illegal scrap metal business where police say, stolen copper was being bought.

Hirsch says his phone service is finally back but he’s got a warning to his West County neighbors.

“Community, lookout this is a hazard to our existence, they’re cutting off our communications,” said Hirsch.

.