Once again, thieves have cut down telephone wires to sell the copper, putting about 600 St. Croix Innovative customers without phone service Thursday and Friday, according to the company.
This is the 14th incident in four months where telephone service has been interrupted by thieves, who actually climb utility poles to remove copper wire, which they can then sell for the scrap metal value of the copper. Innovative’s technical crews were on site Friday repairing the damage.
On Wednesday evening, roughly six spans of 300 and 400 pair cable were stolen from Estate Calquohoun, Concordia and Salt River.
"During the second busiest time of the year, families are deprived of communicating with loved ones due to the callous, insensitive greed of the copper thieves," Innovative officials said in a statement. “It is imperative that residents remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities around Innovative’s outside plant facilities. The repercussion of these recurring incidents of theft continues to affect the company economically.”
Construction supervisor Patrick McFarlande said in the statement that service should be restored by Saturday.
Purposeful disruption of telecommunication services is a federal offense because it may affect the ability of emergency responders and other individuals to communicate. Innovative has enlisted the aid of both the local and federal authorities in apprehending these perpetrators. Innovative officials are encouraging anyone with information concerning the theft to contact the local authorities.
For cable TV or phone repairs, Innovative customers calling from landlines should dial 912. Customers using wireless phones can reach the repair center at (340) 778-1742.
Innovative PowerNet customers should call (340) 714-3700. Innovative customers may also report a service problem online by logging on to www.innovativevi.net, clicking on the “Contact Us” button at the top right of the home page and selecting “Repair Center” as the subject in the “Submit An Inquiry” section. Customers may also e-mail their report directly to the following address: svcupdt1@innovativevi.net.