Hacienda Heights residents suffer months without phone service due to copper thieves

In Hacienda Heights, California, residents have been grappling with a lack of landline phone service for six months due to a series of copper wire thefts. The problem began around April 2024, when thieves began tampering with utility poles and stealing copper wires, affecting not only phone lines but also power lines for local schools. This has forced some students at Glen A. Wilson High School to switch to remote learning, highlighting the serious impact of the thefts on education and safety in the community. Many residents, including 79-year-old Michael Weiner, who desperately relied on their landline for emergencies, reported difficulties in contacting their service provider, Frontier Communications. Attempts to get information on service restoration were met with vague replies about technical issues, further aggravating the situation. Weiner expressed concern over the lack of communication from Frontier, stating that such a disruption poses severe risks in emergencies, especially in a fire-prone area like theirs. The thefts intensified due to the rising value of copper in the scrap metal market, with thieves motivated by financial gain, which exacerbates the struggles of residents. The local Sheriff's Department is currently investigating these thefts while Frontier Communications has begun restoring service to some areas; however, repair and replacement efforts are ongoing. Community leaders, including McAllister from the Hacienda Heights Improvement Association, have emphasized the theft's frequency and pledged to address customer billing issues for residents charged for services that were unavailable. Residents have expressed their frustrations and concerns about communication and service reliability, marking a troubling period for the largely affected community.