BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — The Bakersfield Police Department has reported a surge in felony theft and vandalism targeting phone and cable service lines in Bakersfield and Kern County. Charter Communications/Spectrum is offering a reward of up to $25,000 for credible tips leading to an arrest.
Vandals have been cutting fiber-optic lines and stealing or damaging batteries, mistakenly assuming the lines contain valuable metals like copper. They do not.
These crimes have disrupted phone and cable services for thousands, risking access to critical emergency services such as 9-1-1. “There is a concern when phone services are disrupted, as homes affected by the damage may be hampered in calling 9-1-1 for emergency services,” stated Sgt. Robert Robles of the Bakersfield Police Department…