Saline County sheriff, state’s attorney ask for public’s help finding who cut phone lines, stole copper

SALINE COUNTY, Ill. (KBSI) – The Saline County sheriff and state’s attorney ask the public for help after the sheriff’s office received multiple reports of people cutting phone lines from utility poles and stealing the copper from the lines.

Over the past couple of months, the sheriff’s office received multiple reports of the thefts.

Charges are currently pending on some people.

However, the cutting of the phone lines continues to be an ongoing issue, according to the Saline County Sheriff’s Office.

Saline County State’s Attorney Molly Wilson and Saline County Sheriff Whipper Johnson issued a joint press release asking for the public’s assistance.

“If you observe someone tampering with a utility pole, please contact the Sheriff’s Office at 618-252-8661 and provide a physical location, a physical description of the subject and their vehicle. Any individual performing authorized work on utility lines are identifiable by a comapny name displayed on the vehicle and a badge displaying the individual’s name and photo identification. Utility services do not employ agent who operate unmarked vehicles.”