Police across the Metroplex have arrested more than 250 people for stealing copper wire in the past year, but they say people are still trying to collect metal from phone lines.
Fort Worth police, for example, say they've seen a 53% increase in metal theft in the past three years and a 545% increase in theft of copper wire that belongs to AT&T.
Police are now working with AT&T to stop it. Anthony White from Fort Worth PD says arrests for metal theft can sometimes lead to a bigger crime network and disrupt critical infrastructure.
White says they'd like a regional task force to deal with metal theft, saying a case in one city might affect infrastructure in another. Plus, AT&T says Dallas police see more theft, but the crime seems to be moving to other parts of the metroplex.
AT&T says it offers rewards for arrests and is upgrading to fiber as quickly as possible. The company says it also works with Spectrum to try to stop theft.
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