Atlanta police are investigating the brazen theft this week of about 200 feet of wiring from utility poles along Bolton Road.
When the copper thieves cut the wires, the tension caused one of the poles to snap, Atlanta police Capt. Barry Shaw told the AJC.
The wires hang almost 40 feet up, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Shaw said Friday that the theft apparently occurred “a couple of days ago” and was reported to police on Thursday after an AT&T employee discovered the theft and damaged pole. Customers had complained of losing cable TV and Internet service.
Last month, AT&T, which has been hit hard by copper thefts this year, said it was still offering a reward of up to $3,000 for information leading to convictions in the cases.
Copper prices are near a record high, selling for nearly $4 a pound Thursday, which is more than double the early 2009 price, according to the Associated Press.
The copper stolen along Bolton Road is worth about $3,500, Channel 2 reported.
-- Dispatch editor Angel K. Brooks contributed to this article.
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