By Belize Live News Staff: A routine maintenance check at a telecommunications tower in San Felipe Village turned up a costly discovery.
A Smart worker arrived at the site on Wednesday and found the side fence had been cut open. Inside, more than 400 feet of copper cable was missing, including the grounding cable.
The stolen copper is valued at nearly $4,500.
With security cameras at the site down at the time, it is unclear when the theft happened or who was responsible.
Copper theft is a growing problem for utility and telecom providers, as thieves target cables to sell for scrap. Beyond the financial loss, removing grounding and power cables can damage equipment and disrupt services for customers.
Police are investigating. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Orange Walk Police or Crime Stoppers at 922.
