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Copper thieves shut down neighborhood’s phone service -- again

02:47 AM CDT on Thursday, March 20, 2008

By Leigh Frillici / 11 News

Katie Stillwell has been keeping a daily log, a log that includes the problems with her phone service

Last week, copper thieves climbed up telephone poles and took the wire. Leaving an entire neighborhood without phone service.

After 11 News first reported the thefts, the phone company quickly got out there, replaced all the stolen wire, and restored phone service. Thing is, the thieves have done it again.

Katie Stillwell's journal traces her daily life and you can track her phone troubles there are well.

After having lost her phone service because of copper thieves, the phone started ringing again on Feb. 28. But that was just the beginning of her phone problems

Phone service went down again on Monday, and according to her journal her last call came in at 11:29 a.m. on March 17.

And Stillwell is not the only AT&T customer experiencing problems

The phone company said that the lines along Westmount Houston have been cut three times. Cutting service to about 1,000 people.

The phone company believes thieves are after the copper in the wires. This time, someone stole about 400 feet of the cable.

AT&T wouldn’t say what the value of the stolen cable is, but did say there's a greater cost to customers.

Customers who in times of emergency can't even call 911. So, crews were working around the clock to patch things up -- for a third time.

But without phone service, Stillwell's children get nervous when they can't reach her, especially since she doesn't have a cell phone.

So, Stillwell is still waiting for her phone to ring.

AT&T says phone service won't be restored to the community until Friday. The company said it too is frustrated and is offering a reward to catch the thieves who keep cutting the lines.

Inside KHOU.com

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