DAYTON — A local police department is warning the community of an increase in wire thefts involving critical public infrastructure.
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Thieves have been spotted using ladders and safety vests to appear as legitimate utility crews, according to a warning from the Dayton Police Department.
The criminals are often operating from unmarked vehicles while tampering with public equipment.
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Legitimate utility crews typically use vehicles that are clearly marked with company names and logos, police said.
Authorized workers will have identifiable company information available on their equipment and vehicles.
Authorities cautioned that safety vests alone do not confirm that a person is authorized to work on public infrastructure.
Reporting suspicious activity as it occurs allows law enforcement to respond and act quickly.
Terrence Williams, owner of Miami Valley Recycling, said it usually raises suspicion when anyone comes in with a bulk of one item.
“It may raise a red flag because usually when you got large items or pounds, it’s usually from a company or something commercial,” Williams said.
He added that every transaction gets recorded on their camera system and scale when it’s weighed.
“At any time, we can go back to our customer and see what they brought in,” Williams said.
He said they also run criminal background checks on people who sell to them.
Residents who witness tampering with equipment or lines are encouraged to contact the Police Department immediately.
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