Metal thieves try and steal BT cables, affecting 2.5 million people

Metal thieves went underground to try and steal BT cables, affecting 2.5 million people

Sometime before 11.40pm on Wednesday 26 June 2013 the offenders forced open a manhole on Manchester Road, Oldham. They then managed to get down a 20ft shaft to an area where a complex telephone cable system is based.

At the bottom, they cut away several cables. They left empty handed shortly after 12.40am on Thursday 27 June 2013.

The damage caused disruption to television services at 2.5 million addresses, including homes and businesses in Rochdale. 

Engineers from BT have had to work around the clock to restore other affected services, including telephone lines and broadband.

A BT Openreach partnership with Crimestoppers offers up to £1,000 as a reward for information leading to arrests and subsequent successful convictions. People can call anonymously and free on 0800 555 111.

Superintendent Craig Thompson, lead for Operation Alloy, said: "Officers from Operation Alloy, GMP's response to the issue of metal theft, have worked tirelessly to disrupt the crooks whose activities can cause inconvenience and distress to households, businesses and communities.

"Sadly, metal thieves will go to considerable length to get what they want, and the people responsible for this incident have no regard for impact of what they did and even though they left empty handed, we are committed to bringing them to justice.

"We have been working closely with BT for some time and when the alarm was raised; our BT colleagues immediately put in-place Operation Rabbit, their full-scale response to incidents of this nature.

"We are appealing for any witnesses who may have information to call us and assist our investigation."

Kevin Brown, general manager, BT metal theft task force, said: "I would urge anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area to contact the police or Crimestoppers. Metal theft generates thousands of faults on BT's network every year and remains a priority for BT"

Anyone with any information should call police on 0161 856 8825 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.