For the third time in a week, Innovate Telephone customers on St. Croix lost service because someone is stealing the company’s cable.
Copper telephone cable has been stolen from Innovative Telephone’s outside plant, the company reported Thursday. This incident interrupted service for approximately 30 residents in Estate Calquohoun on Thursday afternoon.
Innovative announced that its line crew and splicers expected repairs to be completed by Thursday evening.
Earlier thefts of copper telephone cable in the vicinity of Estate New Works and Estate Glynn affected telephone service for about 122 residents and businesses, and another interrupted service for 20 residents in the Coble area.
Both previous service disruptions were repaired and service was restored.
In a statement issued Thursday, Innovative pointed out that the thieves are doing more than inconveniencing a few customers. They are courting serious legal repercussions.
"Purposeful disruption of telecommunication services is a federal offense because it may affect the ability of emergency responders and other individuals to communicate," the statement said. "Innovative will report this incident to both local and federal authorities. Innovative officials are encouraging anyone with information concerning the theft to contact the local authorities."
Customers who need cable TV or telephone service repairs and who are calling from landlines can dial 912. Customers using wireless phones can reach the repair center at 1-340-778-1742. The company urged callers to be prepared with the telephone number, statement number, address, description of problem and brief directions.
For assistance with Internet service, Innovative PowerNet customers can call 1-340-714-3700. Innovative customers may also report a service problem online by logging on to www.innovativevi.net, clicking on the “Contact Us” button at the top right of the home page and selecting “Repair Center” as the subject in the “Submit an Inquiry” section.
Customers can also e-mail report directly to svcupdt1@innovativevi.net.
