Copper Heists Disrupt Rural Internet | Charlotte News

Copper wire thefts are crippling internet access across Anson County, with thieves stealing nearly four thousand feet of cable—enough to stretch eleven football fields—and causing major outages that isolate rural communities. Authorities believe it’s a coordinated crew, not a lone culprit, and Kinetic, the local provider, is offering a $10,000 reward for tips. For residents, especially those with unreliable cell service, the internet is a lifeline—and losing it means losing connection to the world, even emergency services. In response, Kinetic is installing cameras and GPS trackers and upgrading aging copper lines to fiber-optic cables, which are harder to steal. Scrap metal dealers are also being reminded to follow strict ID and documentation laws. The Sheriff’s Office remains confident the culprits will eventually be caught—because they can’t keep hiding forever. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/5e678b918cfdf979