Copper thefts lead to repeated service outages for Bell customers in Oromocto, Lincoln
People in Oromocto and Lincoln have been facing repeated outages with their Bell services since October.
On Tuesday, Bell Aliant confirmed that approximately 850 customers in Oromocto and Lincoln are experiencing disruptions, affecting internet, home phone and TV services.
In the last two weeks, some residents have reported three separate outage incidents.
Katie Hatfield, senior manager of communications at Bell, said in an email the service disruption is caused by "vandalism to our network," more specifically, copper wire theft.
These thefts began to rise in late summer and escalated in October for customers in Fredericton, Oromocto and surrounding areas, said Hatfield, adding that there have been 40 instances of vandalism.
She said Bell Aliant is working "as quickly as possible," but that services may take until 11 p.m. Tuesday to be restored.
Daryl Wells, a Bell customer in Oromocto West, said his first experience with one of these outages was on Nov. 19. He said he called Bell and was told cables were cut and the copper was being stolen.
It happened again on Nov. 23, he said. And because he works for a software company at home, without internet he had to leave and find somewhere else to work. After the second time, he said he got a back-up plan with Rogers Communications so if another outage happened, he would still have internet.
That back-up plan came in handy on Tuesday.
"I'm able to do my work and function OK, but you know, I had to pay for an extra package with another provider to do that, so it's very disruptive," he said.
'Very disconcerting'
Wells said he understands the theft isn't Bell's fault, but he hopes something can be done.
"We rely on these these capabilities, you know, to to run our lives," said Wells. "So it's very disconcerting."
Hatfield said Bell Aliant is "taking this issue very seriously by working closely with local law enforcement, hiring extra security guards, adding alarms, and cameras," and urges the public to "call 911 if they see suspicious activity."
Cpl. Terry Densmore of the RCMP Oromocto detachment said police are investigating two instances of cut and stolen copper wire that caused telecommunications outages.
He said these incidents took place on Nov. 24 and Tuesday, Nov. 29. He said the Nov. 24 interruption was the result of cut wire at a pole on Broad Road in Oromocto and Tuesday's was the result of cut wire on Black Watch Avenue.
"We're working closely with the telecommunications provider in order to help solve these crimes," said Densmore.
Densmore could not speak to other incidents of stolen wire causing outages in the region besides the Nov. 24 and Nov. 29 disruptions.
Densmore said if residents see someone cutting wire or acting in a suspicious way, they should call Crimestoppers, 911 or the Oromocto RCMP, and avoid putting themselves in harm's way.
Copper wire thefts have cropped up elsewhere in the country, where police say it's being sold to metal recyclers.
