In a plea for stringent action against vandals, Bell Aliant beseeches both provincial and federal government to heighten penalties for the theft of copper wires. The move follows a recent happening in Oromocto, N.B., that deprived nearly 300 residents of service until late evening on Saturday.
This incident is merely a fragment of a mounting problem. The telecommunications entity has experienced over 115 instances of desecration within the province since the start of the year 2022.
Nationwide, Bell Aliant reports a shocking rise in such incidents, witnessing a 221 percent increase year-on-year. This alarming surge has prompted the company to advise the government to augment the corresponding fines.
“Circumstances necessitate our provincial and federal governments to amplify efforts in bolstering the resilience of our country’s telecommunication networks,” stated a company representative, Julie Garneau. She advocates for more exorbitant fines and revisions in the criminal code to safeguard crucial infrastructure.
Repairing the damages from such incidents, Bell Canada asserts, require approximately eighteen hours. While these repairs are being executed, communication lines are severed, jeopardizing customer safety.
Recognizing the recurrent copper thefts, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) asserts their cognizance of the situation and assures that investigations are underway.
“We stand aware of the recent pilferage in the Oromocto region. Malefactors continue to descend upon areas abundant with copper wires, including residential, commercial, and power substation locales,” shared Sgt. Luc Samson. He urges anyone with knowledge of similar crimes to promptly report to their local law enforcement.
Bell Canada stands as the corporate head of CTV Atlantic and Bell Aliant, directly affected by the surge in vandalism across the nation.
