The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the recent theft of AT&T wire from utility poles in Imperial and the De Soto area. The wires appear to have been stolen between June 25 and June 27, but AT&T did not report the thefts until July 1, authorities reported.
Approximately 100 feet of copper wiring was cut from poles in the 3100 block of Fountain City Road east of De Soto during the overnight hours of June 25 and June 26. AT&T reported a work order was issued at about 8:30 a.m. June 26 because of service outages in the area, the report said.
Approximately 70 feet of data wire was cut from poles near the intersection of Hwy. 61-67 and Church Street in Imperial on June 27. AT&T had received reports of service outages that day, but a technician did not report the theft then, according to the report.
However, a different technician was sent to the area on July 1 because of reported outages, and he reported the wires had been cut and stolen, the report said.
The Sheriff’s Office said the stolen copper wire was worth more than $750.
As of July 5, none of the wire had been recovered and no suspects had been identified, spokesman Grant Bissell said. He asks anyone with information about the thefts to call the Sheriff’s Office at 636-797-5515.