Copper Cable Thieves Cut Phone Lines Across South Carolina

A wave of copper cable thefts has been sweeping through South Carolina's Midlands region, cutting phone service to homes and businesses and putting emergency communications at risk. Over the past year, AT&T suffered 105 copper thefts in Richland County alone, with 60 incidents occurring since October 2025.

The Richland County Sheriff's Department announced the arrests of three men in connection with a string of copper thefts. Michael McCraw, 58, was arrested on June 24 for Obtaining Money Under False Pretenses after authorities determined he had been selling stolen copper. Investigators estimate McCraw netted roughly $38,000 from selling burned communication-line copper.

The surge in copper theft is attributed to soaring demand from AI data center construction and rising commodity prices, which have climbed more than 50 percent in the year ending August 4, 2026. AT&T's Todd Swenson stated that 'The higher the price of copper is at a recycler and on the market, our theft goes up.'

Across the country, communications providers reported over 15,500 theft and vandalism incidents between mid-2024 and mid-2025, disrupting service for more than 9.5 million customers.