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Reserve Your Seat TodayCopper theft is not a relic of the past. Heading into 2026, it's still costing telecom providers, utility companies, and infrastructure operators millions each year. As copper prices remain high and remote sites become more essential (and vulnerable), criminals are increasingly targeting this easy-money crime.
If your sites have exposed copper - whether it's telecom cabling, HVAC coils, or grounding wires - you're a target.
So, why hasn't this problem gone away?
Why are even well-established companies still suffering huge losses?
Let's take a look at what you can do - today - to stop copper theft from happening to your sites.
We've all seen headlines about copper theft over the last two decades. But the reasons it's still happening - and getting worse - may surprise you.
As of late 2025, copper has been hovering at record levels (inflation makes everything more expensive, including commodities like copper). And it's not coming down anytime soon.
That's because copper is essential to:
Copper is quite literally powering the future - and that makes it valuable. Criminals know they can strip copper from your remote sites and sell it quickly as scrap for cash.
"With copper prices up, more people are risking a lot for what seems like an easy payday."
- Officer with a regional theft task force
Copper thieves aren't just smashing windows and hoping for the best. Nowadays, many are organized, experienced, and know exactly what they're looking for.
Their targets are typically:
They know how to avoid detection - and how to get in and get out fast.
Let's face it: telecom companies and utility providers often have hundreds or thousands of remote sites.
Even if only a handful of them lack cameras, motion detection, and real-time alarm reporting, they're sitting ducks for copper thieves.
It's tempting to think copper theft is a minor nuisance - until it happens to you.
When thieves hit your site, they don't just steal copper. They break your network.
Imagine this scenario:
Your next day involves:
And if this happens at multiple sites, the damage multiplies.
In one real-world case, 3 miles of telecom cable were stolen from an Oregon site. The total repair bill was over $3 million - and that was in 2008. In 2026, the cost could be double that. It's darkly ironic that hundreds of dollars worth of copper can create millions in additional costs when it's unceremoniously ripped out by thieves.
This is about more than just a few feet of wire. It's about network downtime, lost revenue, and broken trust.
Many companies believe they've addressed copper theft with simple, low-cost measures:
These tactics feel good, but they're not enough.
Most theft cases happen in remote areas where there's no one watching. A camera that records video to an NVR (but doesn't send alerts) won't stop a thief in real time. And locks only slow down someone with a crowbar.
To truly stop copper theft in 2026, you need proactive detection and immediate alerts.
That means combining:
In order to prevent copper theft, you need a reliable system. In the ideal scenario :
This is the reality for DPS Telecom clients who've deployed comprehensive monitoring solutions at their most vulnerable sites. These clients are using:
"Know who tries to enter when you're not there."
Door sensors alert you to unauthorized access attempts - before a thief even reaches your copper. These integrate directly with NetGuardian RTUs and can be customized for time-of-day triggers or maintenance windows.
"Stop copper thieves in their tracks." Our motion sensors usually cover a detection range of 10-20 feet. They can monitor indoor spaces or outdoor perimeters and trigger alarms the moment someone steps into the protected zone. Tie these into your T/Mon system for real-time alerts that pop up from any site in your network.
"Visual proof - before, during, and after an incident." Visible surveillance is a known deterrent. When thieves see a camera, they often walk away. And if they don't, you'll have high-resolution stills or live video to support law enforcement and internal investigation.
"Monitor multiple security sensors 24/7." This flagship RTU is more than just a monitoring device. It's your site security hub. This RTU:
Your NetGuardian RTU acts fast - and gives you the situational awareness to act faster.
What makes DPS solutions different is how they work together.
This isn't about one motion sensor or one camera. It's about creating a layered defense:
And since our systems are open-standard (SNMP, MODBUS, etc.), they integrate with your existing NMS or central station. That means there's no need to rip and replace existing gear.
DPS Telecom has been solving problems like copper theft for more than 30 years. Remote site monitoring isn't a "side hustle" for us - it's our entire business.
When you work with us, you get:
We're not just selling you a box. We're helping you build a reliable, scalable defense that adapts to new threats.
If you've already been hit by copper theft, you know the pain.
If you haven't - you're lucky. But don't rely on luck.
The cost of doing nothing could be your next outage, your next emergency service call, or your next public apology.
Let's fix that before it happens.
We're here to help you by:
Call us now at 1-800-693-0351 or email sales@dpstele.com
Let DPS help you protect your copper, your uptime, and your peace of mind.
Andrew Erickson
Andrew Erickson is an Application Engineer at DPS Telecom, a manufacturer of semi-custom remote alarm monitoring systems based in Fresno, California. Andrew brings more than 19 years of experience building site monitoring solutions, developing intuitive user interfaces and documentation, and opt...
