Portmore’s telecommunications impacted by attempted robbery of cable wires
The telecommunications services of householders and businesses in Portmore, St Catherine were disrupted Saturday morning as thieves attempted to rob cable wires of the telecommunications networks that operate in that section of the island.
The criminals were stopped by a team from the St Catherine South Police after they had cut what is estimated to be hundreds of feet of cable wires and were awaiting their cronies to pick up the loot.
The police, acting on information, arrived at the Augustus Drive in Passagefort scene about 4:20 am, with the criminals who are believed to have had lookouts, running in different directions. They managed to elude the small team of police officers.
The police believe the criminals, estimated to be about eight had vehicles in the area, including the truck that would have done the major pickup. They left the cable wires which the police were able to confiscate.
Among the areas that were affected by the attempted robbery are Waterford, Caymanas Gardens, Passagefort and Gregory Park. It also interrupted the services of banks and other major organisations in Portmore.
It is understood that the cut wires cost millions and the telecommunications companies have been suffering losses for an extended period. The thieves, a police source said, use cable wires as a source of income in the lucrative copper trade.