After a cell phone tower off of Metamora Rd. was striped of nearly 1,800 feet of its copper wiring, local law enforcement is asking residents to be on the look out.
According to a report from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Oxford substation, the wiring, which runs from the top of the tower down to the ground, was stolen on or before Nov. 8.
Det. Kevin McNally, of the Oxford substation, said the tower is owned by American Tower and is leased to cell phone service provider Cingular Wireless.
According to McNally, the thieves would’ve had to ‘scale all the way to the top and cut (the wires) with a power saw.?
‘There was nine sections that are 200 ft. long that were stolen,? he said.
The detective said the price of the amount stolen totaled to about $5,400, or $3 a foot and that copper has become more valuable lately.
‘They strip that rubber coating off and sell it for scrap,? he said.
McNally said there have been a string of copper thefts from cell phone towers in other areas and counties, but this was the first of its kind in Oxford Township.
He said residents need to be on the lookout, primarily at construction sites due to the aluminum and steel used.
If you have any information on the above incident, contact the sheriff’s substation at (248) 969-3077.