Thieves steal $100K in batteries, wires from SLC cellphone towers


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SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake police were looking Tuesday for the person or people responsible for a rash of break-ins and thefts at local cellphone towers.

Since early Monday, at least five incidents had been reported, said Salt Lake police detective Greg Wilking. Someone has been breaking into sheds located at the base of cellphone towers around the city, he said.

"Those had been forced open and a hole cut into the fence to get in, and batteries and copper wires taken," Wilking said.

Four towers were broken into early Monday, Wilking said. A fifth incident was reported about 2 a.m. Tuesday at a tower that had been hit the night before, he said. When officers arrived, they found batteries lined up against a fence like someone was about to take them just before police arrived.

Damage to the facilities, plus the cost of the items taken totaled between $80,000 and $100,000, Wilking said.

The cell towers were still able to function without the stolen backup batteries, he said, but he was unsure if they could function if they were forced to go to backup power.

Anyone with information can call police at 801-799-3000.

Contributing: Andrew Adams

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