More than 300 copper theft incidents have hit AT&T’s network across Oklahoma so far this year, and the company is now dangling a $10,000 reward for tips that lead to arrests. One recent theft alone knocked out phone and internet service for more than 300 homes for about 13 hours, underscoring how a crime once dismissed as scrap-yard hustling has become a genuine threat to emergency communications statewide.
According to News 9, AT&T had logged more than 300 copper theft incidents affecting its Oklahoma network as of August 1, with Tulsa accounting for 93 of those incidents and Oklahoma City another 86. The company says the reward, approved for up to $10,000, applies to information leading to the arrest and conviction of suspected copper thieves in the state. AT&T is asking residents to report suspicious activity around utility lines, network equipment, manholes, poles and other communications infrastructure directly to local law enforcement or to AT&T Global Security at 1-800-807-4205.
The station’s report notes that Oklahoma now ranks sixth nationwide for copper wire theft incidents affecting AT&T’s network, a placement that fits a broader national surge. AT&T recorded over 10,400 copper theft incidents nationwide in 2025 — roughly 200 per week — resulting in more than $82 million in losses, according to Light Reading. California topped that list with more than 7,300 incidents and over $54 million in damages, per Broadband Breakfast, while AT&T has offered rewards up to $20,000 in states like California and Missouri to encourage tips, as KCUR has reported.
Why the Wire Is Suddenly So Valuable
Global copper prices surged to historic records in August, with U.S. futures topping $6.70 per pound and international prices exceeding $14,800 per metric ton amid severe supply constraints and trade tariffs, per MINING.COM. Those elevated raw metal prices raise the immediate payout for stolen cable sold to illicit scrap buyers, turning what used to be opportunistic theft into a more lucrative target. AT&T Global Security reported in April that copper theft has evolved from individual, opportunistic acts into organized criminal operations using heavy equipment for coordinated, simultaneous strikes on active utility lines, according to PCMag…