More than 300 copper theft incidents have hit AT&T's network across Oklahoma so far this year, and the company is now dangling a $10,000 reward for tips that lead to arrests. One recent theft alone knocked out phone and internet service for more than 300 homes for about 13 hours, underscoring how a crime once dismissed as scrap-yard hustling has become a genuine threat to emergency communications statewide.
According to News 9, AT&T had logged more than 300 copper theft incidents affecting its Oklahoma network as of August 1, with Tulsa accounting for 93 of those incidents and Oklahoma City another 86. The company says the reward, approved for up to $10,000, applies to information leading to the arrest and conviction of suspected copper thieves in the state. AT&T is asking residents to report suspicious activity around utility lines, network equipment, manholes, poles and other communications infrastructure directly to local law enforcement or to AT&T Global Security at 1-800-807-4205.
The station's report notes that Oklahoma now ranks sixth nationwide for copper wire theft incidents affecting AT&T's network, a placement that fits a broader national surge. AT&T recorded over 10,400 copper theft incidents nationwide in 2025 — roughly 200 per week — resulting in more than $82 million in losses, according to Light Reading. California topped that list with more than 7,300 incidents and over $54 million in damages, per Broadband Breakfast, while AT&T has offered rewards up to $20,000 in states like California and Missouri to encourage tips, as KCUR has reported.
Why the Wire Is Suddenly So Valuable
Global copper prices surged to historic records in August, with U.S. futures topping $6.70 per pound and international prices exceeding $14,800 per metric ton amid severe supply constraints and trade tariffs, per MINING.COM. Those elevated raw metal prices raise the immediate payout for stolen cable sold to illicit scrap buyers, turning what used to be opportunistic theft into a more lucrative target. AT&T Global Security reported in April that copper theft has evolved from individual, opportunistic acts into organized criminal operations using heavy equipment for coordinated, simultaneous strikes on active utility lines, according to PCMag.
The stakes go beyond dropped calls. AT&T says copper theft can disrupt phone and internet services and affect emergency communications and access to 911, while damaged lines can create dangerous conditions for workers, first responders and the public. Service disruptions can also potentially affect home alarm systems and critical medical devices that rely on reliable communications, the company said, and thieves can leave behind hazardous work sites when they strip wire from active infrastructure.
Raids Recovered Thousands of Pounds of Stolen Wire
Law enforcement has already scored some wins against the trade. In May, AT&T conducted an operation with Oklahoma City police and the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry that led to the seizure of about 2,400 pounds of stolen copper telecom wire from recycling centers in the Oklahoma City area. A separate Tulsa operation resulted in the recovery of about 300 pounds of stolen telecom wire, per the same report.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry's involvement traces back to its role as the state's primary regulator of scrap metal dealers under the Oklahoma Scrap Metal Dealers Act, which requires sellers to provide copies of driver's licenses and vehicle tag numbers at the point of sale, according to Justia Law. Non-compliant scrap dealers face fines up to $2,500 per offense and possible license revocation. Existing state law under 21 O.S. § 1727 and § 1728 already makes entering property or utility rights-of-way with intent to steal copper, or knowingly receiving or transporting stolen copper, a felony punishable by one to five years in prison.
New State Law Raises the Stakes This Fall
Oklahoma lawmakers have moved to escalate penalties further. Governor Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 1232 in May, creating a felony offense specifically targeting copper wire theft from telecommunications infrastructure, according to BillTrack50. Thefts causing $100,000 or more in damage will be classified as Class C2 felonies punishable by up to $50,000 in fines once the law takes effect on November 1.
There's also a fire risk tied to how some stolen wire gets prepped for sale. Oklahoma law strictly limits the trade of so-called burnt copper — wire stripped of its plastic insulation using fire — classifying repeat offenses as felonies under 2 O.S. § 11-94, according to the Muskogee Fire Department Fire Marshal's Office. Setting fires to burn off that insulation can also trigger separate felony arson charges, the office noted, warning that stolen copper is illegal to buy or sell and poses its own fire risk regardless of the underlying theft charge.
Copper theft isn't the only way thieves have hit AT&T's Oklahoma operations this month. A hijacked $239K copper shipment in Oklahoma City underscored the broader appetite for the metal, even beyond wire ripped directly from utility infrastructure. AT&T is also in the middle of modernizing its network by shifting customers from copper to fiber and wireless service, a transition the company says diverts resources away from network maintenance and expansion when theft keeps forcing repairs.
