A Buckeye man, identified as 38-year-old Jeremiah Ramage, is now behind bars following an investigation into a series of cell tower burglaries that took place across the state, resulting in the theft of communications equipment estimated to be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. According to the Buckeye Police Department's report, the suspect allegedly sold the stolen goods on the online marketplace, eBay.
The investigation was sparked by a break-in at a Tartesso cell phone tower on June 10, where an industrial router, among other valuable items, was reported stolen. Working closely with T-Mobile, detectives uncovered a pattern of over 35 similar incidents within the Phoenix metro area. After developing leads, Ramage, who is a former contractor, became the focal point of the investigation. Driving near Sun Valley Pkwy and Thomas Rd, detectives spotted and apprehended him without incident on Sunday, as reported by the Buckeye Police Department.
During the traffic stop, officers found in the possession of Ramage's, cell tower equipment that was linked to multiple burglaries within Southern Arizona, and a stolen handgun was also discovered. A subsequent search warrant executed at Ramage's Buckeye residence further resulted in the recovery of numerous items identified as belonging to various cell service providers. Ramage is now facing multiple charges, including burglary, theft, and trafficking in stolen property, as stated by the Buckeye Police Department.
Authorities have yet to release the full extent of the monetary losses incurred by the thefts, but the significance of the thefts from these critical communications infrastructures hints at a serious breach of security practices at such facilities. All charges against Ramage were detailed in the official statement provided by the Buckeye Police Department.
