Thieves take $40K in copper wire from northern Ont. construction yard

Two copper wire thefts took out cellphone service in parts of East Ferris on Thursday. Police are investigating as repairs are being made.

A recent spate of copper wire thefts continued in New Liskeard last week when it emerged that tens of thousands of dollars worth had been stolen from a construction site in New Liskeard.

Some valuable heavy equipment was also damaged.

The thefts took place sometime between July 6 and July 11 at a site on Hawn Drive, Ontario Provincial Police said in a news release Thursday.

The theft was reported around 2:45 p.m. on July 11.

Rock crushers, conveyors

“Upon arrival, police learned that a substantial quantity of copper wire had been removed from heavy machinery stored in the rear of a construction yard, including multiple rock crushers and conveyors,” police said.

“Preliminary estimates placed the value of the stolen materials at over $40,000. The total loss is expected to be higher once repair costs and machinery downtime are factored in.”

Copper wire thefts affected cellphone service in East Ferris on Thursday. And about $100,000 in copper wire was stripped from 33 hydro poles near a generating station earlier this year.

Anyone with information related to this incident -- including sightings of suspicious activity or individuals in the area between the dates mentioned -- is asked to contact the Temiskaming OPP at 1-888-310-1122.

To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit a tip online and reference incident No. E250915566.