cable theft affecting phone/web for Brighton folks

desprateseagull · Feb 23, 2014

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/1103..._internet_as_cable_thieves_strike_in_Brighton

anyone seen the crims, or BT repair bods..?

"..Thousands are thought to be without phone or internet connections after thieves made off with copper wiring.

BT technicians are on the scene in Preson Park attempting to restore the connections.

Up to 7000 lines are thought to have been affected and workman hope to have at least 1200 back up today.

According to residents, areas within Withdean, Westdean and Hove are also affected.

BT are urging people to come forward and have posted fliers through doors in the affected areas offering a £1,000 reward for anyone with information that leads to a conviction.."

Czechmate · Feb 23, 2014

Thieving *******s , don't they know it is near impossible to scrap the copper now ? You need to provide address , i.d. and they pay by Cheque once they have confirmed your details . The copper will be fully traceable . I suppose they could melt it down .

Gazwag · Feb 23, 2014

Czechmate said:
Thieving *******s , don't they know it is near impossible to scrap the copper now ? You need to provide address , i.d. and they pay by Cheque once they have confirmed your details . The copper will be fully traceable . I suppose they could melt it down .

Almost as pathetic and the twats that threw a AED into the sea at Bexhill last week, I really really hope one of their family is the person that dies because the equipment isn't there when they need it

Pinkie Brown · Feb 23, 2014

Gazwag said:
Almost as pathetic and the twats that threw a AED into the sea at Bexhill last week, I really really hope one of their family is the person that dies because the equipment isn't there when they need it

I read about that. The ultimate in mindless unforgivable vandalism. Worse than those nicking the copper cable. Not excusing it in anyway, but the copper thieves are doing it because they are...well, thieves, and are trying to make some dishonest money. They aren't too smart, as has been stated, disposing of it to dealers is far harder than it used to be. The scrap yards are bound by the new regulations and have regular audits. The vandals at Bexhill are simply braindead morons.......

Barrel of Fun · Feb 23, 2014

Gazwag said:
Almost as pathetic and the twats that threw a AED into the sea at Bexhill last week, I really really hope one of their family is the person that dies because the equipment isn't there when they need it

Christ. How much would that cost to replace? I hope they catch the ****(s) and charge them for the replacement.

happypig · Feb 23, 2014

Czechmate said:
Thieving *******s , don't they know it is near impossible to scrap the copper now ? You need to provide address , i.d. and they pay by Cheque once they have confirmed your details . The copper will be fully traceable . I suppose they could melt it down .

Cable theft is still very common so they are shifting it somewhere. I suspect there are "tame" scrappies who are part of the network of thieves. As for being traceable, the cable sheathing may have identifiers on it but once it's been melted off on a bonfire at, for example, a caravan site then you're left with a great big tangle of copper.

Beach Hut · Feb 23, 2014

Sadly it did not appear to take out Timmys broadband

:annoyed:

fat old seagull · Feb 23, 2014

happypig said:
for example, a caravan site then you're left with a great big tangle of copper.

Why a caravan site? ..... Oh I see!

Springal · Feb 23, 2014

Very common nowadays.

Worse still, you get these thieves ripping up fibre ducts on railways, thinking its copper, but then realising its worthless fibre...

Gazwag · Feb 24, 2014

Barrel of Fun said:
Christ. How much would that cost to replace? I hope they catch the ****(s) and charge them for the replacement.

Its not a massive cost (well £500-£600 I think), we recently had one put on the wall at our tennis club and much of the cost is borne by the NHS as they are a bit like fire hydrants in some respects as emergency staff know where they are in case they are needed before an ambulance arrives. Its just utter stupidity.

KZNSeagull · Feb 24, 2014

All of the cables around here were pinched about 2 years ago and will not be replaced - too expensive apparently. Rumour is it was done by employees of the SA equivalent of BT and shipped off the China. But like many SA rumours, I have my doubts.

happypig · Feb 24, 2014

KZNSeagull said:
All of the cables around here were pinched about 2 years ago and will not be replaced - too expensive apparently. Rumour is it was done by employees of the SA equivalent of BT and shipped off the China. But like many SA rumours, I have my doubts.

I wouldn't rule it out. BT recently prosecuted an employee for cable theft.

Westdene Seagull · Feb 24, 2014

Nice to see that the Argus reporter doesn't even know how to spell the suburbs of Brighton correctly. punish:

Badger · Feb 24, 2014

That explains why I couldn't use my phone yesterday. The internet is working though, I guess they didn't touch the fibre cables.

somerset · Feb 24, 2014

KZNSeagull said:
All of the cables around here were pinched about 2 years ago and will not be replaced - too expensive apparently. Rumour is it was done by employees of the SA equivalent of BT and shipped off the China. But like many SA rumours, I have my doubts.

When I lived in Muizenberg back in the day, some of the locals from the Cape Flats, stole the two railway crossing gates from the middle of town one night. They were made of heavy wood and they used them, whole to provide one wall of a new shack they built. Needless to say the authorities noticed this house that looked like a railway gate, there was a flurry of sjambok activity and the gates were returned to their rightful place.

KZNSeagull · Feb 24, 2014

somerset said:
When I lived in Muizenberg back in the day, some of the locals from the Cape Flats, stole the two railway crossing gates from the middle of town one night. They were made of heavy wood and they used them, whole to provide one wall of a new shack they built. Needless to say the authorities noticed this house that looked like a railway gate, there was a flurry of sjambok activity and the gates were returned to their rightful place.

Sounds about right. Now that most rural Telkom cables have gone, the latest craze seems to be to pinch electricity cables.

Nottseagull · Feb 24, 2014

Gazwag said:
Almost as pathetic and the twats that threw a AED into the sea at Bexhill last week, I really really hope one of their family is the person that dies because the equipment isn't there when they need it

You hope that an innocent person is killed instead of the perpetrator?

Binney on acid · Feb 24, 2014

Our service (in Reigate road) has been restored today. Shame! I was saving a fortune with my partner unable to spend hours on the phone to her bloody relatives. I was hoping it would be back in time for Christmas.

Super Steve Earle · Feb 25, 2014

I had to go home early from work on Friday afternoon as no systems :thumbsup:

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