Bell Canada says copper wire theft has increased 235 per cent year-to-year in New Brunswick, with the province leading a national “surge” recorded in the first half of 2026. Bell says 268 incidents of theft and vandalism have been reported across its infrastructure in New Brunswick so far this year. Ontario and New Brunswick account for most – 85 per cent – of the increased theft reported nationally. In all, Bell says 993 incidents of copper theft and vandalism have affected its Canadian infrastructure between January and June of this year, representing a 78 per cent increase over the same period in 2025. “In the first half of 2026, Bell has seen a surge in theft and vandalism targeting telecommunications infrastructure, causing service outages that can disrupt Internet, TV and phone services -- and most importantly, can potentially compromise access to 911 and other emergency services,” says a statement from Bell. The number of arrests connected to copper wire theft across the country has also increased, by 32 per cent, according to Bell. In a statement, New Brunswick RCMP says it “is aware of recent increase in copper wire thefts across the province” but didn’t provide numbers on Wednesday. “Any suspicious activity around power poles, substations, construction sites, storage yards, or other locations where copper wire may be stored should be reported to police immediately, regardless of the time of day,” says an RCMP statement. Rural areas around Fredericton and Charlotte County continue to be the “hot spots” for copper theft activity in New Brunswick. “More recently Moncton, and the rural areas surrounding Moncton, have flared up as well,” says Dana Lohnes, Bell’s director of field operations. “We’re growing disproportionately fast when compared to the rest of the country.” More to come... CTV News is owned by Bell Media, which is a division of BCE. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
