The Attala County Sheriff’s Department is warning thieves targeting phone lines, internet cables, and copper wiring across the area that law enforcement is closing in on those responsible.
The warning comes after a string of thefts left local residents without phone or internet service. In a message posted to the department’s Facebook page, officials made it clear that taking utility wires does far more than just destroy property, it cuts off vital connections for rural residents, people working from home, and emergency services.
“What you are doing is not a harmless act of theft,” the Sheriff’s Department shared. “You are disrupting essential services, leaving citizens without internet and communications, preventing people who work from home especially those in rural areas from doing their jobs, and creating unnecessary inconvenience and serious safety concerns for our community.”
Copper wiring and telecommunication lines are often stolen to sell for scrap metal, but officials say the damage left behind hurts the entire community.
Deputies are currently investigating the thefts and warned anyone involved that they will face full legal charges once caught.
“The Attala County Sheriff’s Department will continue working to identify those responsible, and when you are caught, you will be held accountable and prosecuted,” the department stated. “You can run. You can hide. But you cannot steal from the citizens and businesses of Attala County and expect to get away with it.”
Anyone with information about the thefts or who sees suspicious activity near utility lines is asked to contact the Attala County Sheriff’s Department.
