Copper Thieves Are Wreaking Havoc Across America

LOS ANGELES—Rahdeese Alcutt, an AT&T investigator, once managed line repairs for the telecommunications company in this sprawling city. Now, he is the copper police.

Thieves have wreaked havoc in the area, prying open manholes, chipping away at asphalt and climbing trees and poles to cut and steal—and then resell—copper wires that transmit electrical signals for phone and internet lines.