david@indetech.com (David Kuder) (10/04/89)
Roy Smith (roy@alanine.phri.nyu.edu) mentioned that vandals were
stealing copper cables from Metro North (Amtrak). This is the only
instance of this happening. In a more telephone related instance,
copper wires providing telephone service to remote parts of California
have been stolen. The following excerpts come from a reprinting of a
Los Angeles Times article that appeared around Sept. 23.
International jewel thieves they are not. But pesky bands of
burglars have caused a heap of trouble for a string of remote
desert towns this summer, stealing miles of the copper
telephone wires that link the outposts with the rest of the
world.
Lured by the high price of copper, thieves have stolen about 55
miles of multi-strand bare wire in San Bernardino Co. and
another 80 miles in Riverside Co.
The unusual burglaries there have left homes and businesses in
the towns of Ludlow, Amboy, Cadiz and Danby without phone
service periodically since early August with some residents cut
off for as long as a month. Residents of Amboy had to drive 50
miles to Twentynine Palms to make telephone calls.
Becuase of the troubles, Pacbell has decide to link the areas
phones to a microwave system. Until the install is completed
in November, the affected towns will be on an emergency radio
system.
David A. Kuder david@indetech.com
415 438-2003 {sun,sharkey,pacbell}!indetech!david