AT&T Believes ‘Organized Crime’ is Behind Copper Theft
Copper theft cost AT&T $82 million in 2025
WASHINGTON, April 6, 2026 – Copper has long been a target of theft, and telecom companies believe there’s more to it than random acts of crime.
In a blog post released on Friday, AT&T highlighted the level of sophistication in copper line theft and called for community support in small towns and cities around the country to notify law enforcement of suspicious activity.
Rahdeese Alcutt, lead investigator for AT&T Global Security, said that any systems that use copper including railroads, city lighting and transit systems, are potential targets.
