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Copper stripped from NJ cell phone towers

4K views 12 replies 7 participants last post by  nywoodwizard 
#1 ·
Copper stripped from Somerset cell phone towers


Thursday January 24, 2008, 2:14 PM


A spate of copper thefts from cell phone towers in a string of adjacent towns in Somerset County are being tied to the increasing value of the metal.
Eight separate incidents have been reported of copper grounding bars and copper wiring being stolen from cell phone towers, utility stations and constructions sites in Bridgewater, Somerville, Hillsborough and Montgomery all within a 10-day period, police said.
Area police departments are cooperating to stave off further thefts. Hillsborough Police Lt. Greg Harkins said copper has historically been a target of theft, especially in houses under construction, because it an expensive and easily recyclable metal. But the targeting of cell phone towers is new, Harkins said.
"As the metal rises in price, people want to steal it," Verizon Wireless spokesman David Samberg said.
It's getting crazy.
 
#4 ·
Why your AT&T phone won't work in the Bahamas

AT&T builds their towers out of aluminum and the locals scrap them as soon as the construction crews leave. We have vandals here that remove plumbing and wiring from homes under construction. It might be one plus for installing PET.
 
#7 ·
:blink:

How suitable would the conductor be for it's purpose then?
What size conductor would then be needed?
Would a conductor of that size be viable - in terms of installation and cost?
 
#8 ·
I see alot of new residential projects with a fence installed around the perimeter of the site. This seems to be a good idea to keep the vandals and thefts out. I worked on a panel install for a celltower once. The run was from the basement of an apartment building to the 12th floor (W. Orange, NJ). Imagine how much that copper cost? Single phase, 200 amp.
 
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