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Wire theft cuts off Rainier School District's phones

Thursday, May 1, 2008 8:35 AM PDT

By Leila Summers

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RAINIER — A wire thief climbed a utility pole and stole about 100 feet of copper wire in the Townsend Road area, knocking out telephone and Internet service to the Rainier School District’s Briarcliff Campus on Wednesday.

The outage was “a very big, major disruption” for the school system and nearby residents who also lost service, said Superintendent Michael Carter.

“It’s just terrible,” Carter said, noting the school couldn’t access attendance records or receive e-mails from outside the district.

All calls were routed through one emergency phone line at the district office until phone service resumed around 4 p.m.

Columbia County Undersheriff Gerry Simmons late Wednesday afternoon said the theft took place at about 4 a.m. about two miles from the school campus. The thief had to climb a utilty pole to reach the wire, he said.

The theft marked the third time in sixth months that metal thieves have disrupted phone services to the school district and the second time a line was cut in same spot, Carter said.

Simmons said it’s common for metal thieves to exchange copper wire inside telephone lines for cash from metal scrappers.

Qwest spokesman Bob Gravely declined to estimate the cost of the damage, though it typically costs phone companies far more to make repairs than thieves get for the stolen metal.

“It’s a life threatening step these people are doing,” Simmons said. “If somebody has a heart attack and needs to call an ambulance, they can’t do that ... It’s frustrating to us in law enforcement, and it’s dangerous to the public.”

Police are still searching for suspects, Simmons said. Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office at (503) 366-4611.

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times in six months wrote on May 1, 2008 8:36 AM:

" At some point I would think you could make this a little harder to steal, aren't there some fasteners that would make it difficult to steal, isn't there some way to make this cable identifiable to law enforcement. I also think you have to address this at the metal buyer level, can't you just wait there to arrest the criminal? Don't the police have the name and address of the criminal based on metal buyers records. If I can come up with these questions in 30 seconds why can't the phone company, the school district, and law enforcement coming up with some answers. I guess they all get paid even if they don't get any results. "

Gregg wrote on May 1, 2008 8:39 AM:

" It is long past the time to put a end to this. Requireing a business lis. to sell scrap metal and enforceing the laws about buying stolen property would go a long way in putting a stop to this. A little jail time for those buying stolen scrap metal and will make the scrap dealers think twice before they buy stolen property. The police check pawn brokers all the time to see they are not dealing in stolen property and that will work with scrap dealers also. "

El Gabilon wrote on May 1, 2008 9:58 AM:

" Ordinarily we are against the establishment of new laws. The crime rate in the country however is increasing whether it be wire theft or embezzelment, politicial corruption, pedifilia etc. We propose a very simple law. Any person who breaks the law, should be considered an "outlaw", meaning a person who does not wish to obey the laws for whatever reason. Since the person does not wish to obey the law, becoming an outlaw, that person should be DEPORTED as an undesireable person whether a citizen of the US or not. As a taxpayer we are tired of paying for prisons, juvenile halls, courthouses, judges, and a host of other would be unnecessary items if only we would adopt this recommeded law. Once the deportation began, crime would drop. "

need new law in OR wrote on May 1, 2008 10:20 AM:

" The issue will continue until the state of Oregon passes tougher laws. Washington State has enacted laws and/or requirements that make it tough for people to sell the stolen metal. BUT Oregon has no such laws so they steal it in our area and then sell in to "unscrupulous" metal buyers in Portland. Gotta get tougher. People of Rainier need to call their state's Attorney General, their state representatives, etc. to get new laws put in place. "

Cable fastenersMarkings wrote on May 1, 2008 11:14 AM:

" Yes new fasteners and cable markings are available! Now, how do you pay to retrofit thousands of miles of cable and install these more "theft proof" fasteners? Who will pay for it? There is nothing that is 100% theft proof. If someone wants to pull the wires, or break into your home for that matter, they will figure a way around any countermeasures you install. Then you have to find a way to retrofit the counter measures. Fight the drug problem with treatment of the illness. Making everyone a criminal only costs more and more money. The "war on drugs" was lost the minute they declared it. PEOPLE, pay attention to your neighborhoods and get involved! You see something "wrong" report it, don't just ignore it and keep going you own selfish way. Help your neighbor, and we can stop these problems before they are too big! "

Its right in front of our eyes wrote on May 1, 2008 1:54 PM:

" Im sure that 99% of people turning in scrap are meth addicts and this is the money they use to supply there drug habbits for they are too high to work so they steal and these people are right in front of our eyes if people would put there money were there mouths are and start turning people in who they know are contributers to this then this problem would end heres a name or two for you Kevin Weston his brother Stewart they were involved in distroying the ship and make there living turning in copper and metal and from where do they get it??????????? I have now done my part so why dont we all start passing along names and then all these losers will be caught "

Annoyed wrote on May 1, 2008 2:24 PM:

" It is really annoying when people ask for A NEW LAW and think that the current law enforcement or courts would be able to do the job... this county acts like it doesn't cost money to actually hire law enforcement, lawyers, judges and court personnel.
"

Re All wrote on May 1, 2008 2:59 PM:

" somebody who can find all the awnsers should be able to jump tall buildings ia a single bound. Dust off that cape and go get-em super hero!! "

Three times wrote on May 1, 2008 6:11 PM:

" If there are new fasteners and markings why haven't they been tried yet, this is the third time? We don't need to protect the whole system just what's being stolen. Screw drug treatment, to hell with these losers. Lock them up and throw the key away. Re-all screw you we are only asking for a little common sense. If you aren't part of the solution your are the problem, you're probably a metal thief. "

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