Police appeal for help as thefts of internet and phone cables increase in Brittany
‘These acts of vandalism threaten access to the telephone and internet network’, say police
Thieves target copper cables, which can be valuable on the black market for metals
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Police in Brittany are appealing for witnesses and inviting people to report any suspicious behaviour after a sharp rise in thefts of telephone network and internet cabling in the area.
The areas particularly affected are Pays de Concarneau to Pays Bigouden, Nord-Finistère, and Morbihan, but other areas could also be affected, reports Le Télégramme.
More than 4,000 people in Finistère have been affected in recent weeks by service outages as a result of thefts, said France Bleu. Outages as a result of major cable theft can take “four to five weeks” to repair, said network operator Orange, adding that this type of vandalism has increased by 70% in a year.
The police and gendarmerie launched the appeal on December 12, encouraging people to “immediately report” any suspicious signs, especially at night. The theft of cables has led to many homes to be without internet or telephone in recent weeks.
“These acts of vandalism threaten your own access to the telephone and internet network,” said the appeal statement. “They are attacking economic and commercial activity and endangering people who are following an at-home medical care plan, and who use these forms of communication for it.”
Do not intervene, call 17
Suspect behaviour, especially at night, could be:
Anyone who notices any suspicious behaviour that could be connected to people stealing cables should not intervene or approach but instead contact the number 17, the gendarmerie said.
“The perpetrators work at night using military-type vans. They gain access to the underground manholes, cut the cables and then use their vehicle to pull them out,” the statement added.
Read also: Fibre internet: Scammers exploit copper line phase-out in France
Thieves typically target long, copper cables which can fetch a high price on the black market for metals. However, these cables are slowly being replaced by fibre optic internet services which are more durable and offer much faster connections.
