At Tuesday’s Fort Worth City Council work session, the Fort Worth Police Department (FWPD) presented a report on the rising trend of telecommunications wire theft affecting the community. This crime has disrupted essential communication services, impacting residents' safety and local businesses' operations.
The thefts primarily target cables owned by AT&T, though other companies, such as Charter Spectrum, have also been mistakenly targeted by thieves. The criminals often confuse their wires with those of AT&T.
The issue has grown significantly in recent months, as cities across the nation, including Fort Worth, have seen a dramatic increase in metal theft. In particular, the theft of telecommunications cables, mounted on utility poles, has soared, following a rise in the theft of catalytic converters.
From 2020 to 2022, Fort Worth saw a 545% increase in reported AT&T cable thefts, alongside a 53% rise in overall metal theft. Thousands of residents have faced service interruptions, affecting internet and telephone connectivity, emergency response systems, and business operations.
In response, FWPD’s Metal Theft Unit (MTU) has ramped up efforts, including:
- Collaboration: A new workgroup has been formed to combat infrastructure theft, including city officials, AT&T executives, and law enforcement representatives.
- Enforcement: Over 20 arrests were made in 2024 for metal theft crimes.
- Recycling Inspections: The MTU has increased checks at local recycling facilities to ensure compliance with laws.
- Public Awareness: A campaign aimed at educating the public on the consequences of metal theft and encouraging reporting of suspicious activity is underway.
Additionally, FWPD participated in the inaugural Summit on Protecting Critical Communications Infrastructure, which brought together major telecommunications companies and federal agencies to discuss solutions to this growing threat.
