MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas – Only hours after a KPRC 2 report on thieves climbing cell phone towers to steal copper wiring in the Houston area, two men were arrested in Montgomery County for allegedly committing the same crime.
The Magnolia Police Department said they received a call overnight about two men stealing copper from a cell phone tower located at FM 1486 and SH-249.
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The two men also had a U-Haul truck. A deputy with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office stopped it on 249 near Woodtrace Blvd.
Law enforcement determined that the two men were in fact stealing from the cell tower and they were arrested for felony theft, according to Magnolia police.
Thefts of copper from cell phone towers has become an increasing problem in the Houston area. The Houston Police Department is investigating at least 20 cases of copper theft from cell phone towers in the last six months.
Major telecommunications companies say they’re working with authorities in Harris County on a monthly basis to combat the spike in targets on their infrastructure.
On top of Harris and Montgomery Counties, towers in Galveston County have also been hit by thieves. A man was caught in Galveston County doing the same thing on Tuesday. The Galveston County Sheriff’s Office arrested and charged Jimmy Solis, 43, with criminal trespass and stealing copper in connection to the crime. He’s one of several suspects, the sheriff’s office said.