Copper thieves steal 2.5km of phonelines

METAL thieves are stealing Eircom overhead phonelines — the latest theft being 2.5km of cable in Co Kilkenny.

An Eircom spokesman confirmed that the cable was stolen in the Johnswell area and that a further 100ms had been stripped from poles near Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary.

The rising price of metals is driving thieves to target phonelines, which contain valuable copper.