BT security chief issues warning to cable thieves

Friday, September 24th 2010
Bernie Auguste of BT Openreach has said criminals who steal copper cables can be tracked down.
BT security chief issues warning to cable thieves
A BT representative has issued a warning to criminals intending to steal copper wires from its broadband and home phone network.

The telecoms giant revealed earlier this year that it saw a nine per cent increase in deliberate attacks on its infrastructure in 2009, with thieves driven to take the cables as a result of the surge in scrap copper prices.

One of these gangs recently targeted wires at a site in Winterton, Humberside, with the theft affecting the services of up to 300 customers, reports the Scunthorpe Telegraph.

However, a spokeswoman from BT claimed it is becoming harder for these gangs to sell the cable due to efforts by a number of organisations to gain the support of scrap dealers.

Head of security for BT Openreach Bernie Auguste added the company is using SmartWater technology, which means "the police can trace [thieves] and any stolen cable or equipment back to the scene of the crime".

SmartWater is a forensic tagging fluid used to mark the outer shell and inner core of BT's cables.

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