In an effort to combat the growing problem of copper theft, Fallsnet, an internet provider in Little Falls, has installed motion sensing cameras on their tower. These cameras were able to alert them to suspicious activity and ultimately led to the arrest of two men accused of stealing a large amount of copper while posing as phone technicians.
Surveillance footage captured one man scouting the site while another removed the front license plate from a pickup truck. The men were caught with homemade AT&T stickers on their trucks and hard hats, leading to their arrest on burglary charges. Despite the quick apprehension of the thieves, Fallsnet still faces over $10,000 in damages that will need to be repaired.
Kenten Gangestad, the co-owner of Fallsnet, remarked that often the theft is not discovered until days or weeks later. To prevent future incidents from occurring, lawmakers passed a new state law requiring a license to sell copper over the weekend. Gangestad emphasized that beyond the monetary cost, the theft of copper poses safety risks for communities. The darkening of streets due to missing copper can lead to accidents involving both drivers and pedestrians. Lawmakers are working to address the issue before it escalates further.