An 80-year-old West Auckland man was left without a reliable way to communicate for a month after copper thieves targeted telecommunications infrastructure.
Police highlighted the man's experience amid concerns about an increase in thefts targeting telecommunications infrastructure, power cables, and electrical substations across the city's west.
The Henderson Valley man, who lives rurally, relied on copper telecommunications to stay connected.
He was left isolated and without a reliable way to contact emergency services for a month after infrastructure was targeted.
Meanwhile, in Swanson, internet lines supplying a school were deliberately cut, which could have had "serious consequences".
Detective Sergeant Luke Blignaut said that during a medical emergency involving a student, staff couldn't find information through the school's online system.
"The information had to be manually retrieved from local servers, resulting in a delay of around 20 minutes that could have had serious consequences," Blignaut said.
In another incident, more than 3100 homes and businesses across West Auckland were left without internet after a fibre cable was damaged. The outage also affected over 10,000 people in Swanson and Massey.
Two men were arrested in Massey yesterday after police caught them allegedly pulling wiring and equipment from a power box. The 24- and 34-year-old men appeared at the Waitākere District Court yesterday, charged with burglary, possessing instruments for burglary, receiving stolen property and possession of methamphetamine.
Blignaut said the damage from copper theft went beyond the copper itself.
"Damage to power and telecommunications networks can leave homes and businesses without essential services and may put vulnerable members of our community at risk if they rely on electricity or internet-connected medical devices."
He warned that stealing telecommunications assets and power cables was a serious crime that could carry a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.
It is also illegal for scrap metal dealers to buy material from telecommunications or power infrastructure if they know or are reckless as to whether it is stolen.
"Police are working closely with scrap metal dealers and telecommunications providers to help identify stolen materials and prevent offenders from profiting from these crimes," Blignaut said.
He urged anyone witnessing a copper theft in progress to call 111 or 105 if it is after the fact.
"If you see people working on power lines, telecommunications cables, roadside cabinets, or substations and something doesn't seem right, do not intervene.
"Note any relevant details from a safe distance and contact police immediately."
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