The Izard County Sheriff’s Department is offering of a $2,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the theft of copper wire from  Century  Link phone lines.. These thefts from the remote areas of Izard County are endangering the lives of our citizens by taking away their ability to use 911 services. 

Sheriff Tate Lawrence said that stealing cable puts the entire community at risk by having our citizens be out of phone or electric service for even short periods of time.  We believe that the copper is being taken to recycling centers where it is sold as scrap.

 According to Skip Layne, CenturyLink area operations manager, someone suddenly in need of emergency medical assistance and finding 911 services don’t work because someone cut the cable to steal the copper is a very serious situation.  This is a crime that impacts everyone.

Anyone having information regarding the theft of copper cable is asked to call the Izard County Sheriff’s Department’s Crime Tip HOTline at 870 368 4312.  Anyone seeing a cable theft in progress is asked to call 911.

News Release

For Immediate Release

August 13, 2012

POC: Sheriff Tate Lawrence

870 368 4203