An outage that affected customers across the Los Angeles, Van Nuys and surrounding areas on Sunday morning was allegedly caused by what Spectrum described as a “criminal act of vandalism,” and the company is now offering a reward for help finding the person responsible.
“Early this morning our fiber optic lines were intentionally cut in Los Angeles due to vandalism,” the internet and cable provider shared in a statement. Spectrum did not immediately specify how many customers were affected by the fiber cuts, but said that the temporary outage affected “some residents and businesses.”
According to the company, “criminal acts of network vandalism” have become increasingly common within the entire telecommunications industry, mostly because of the price increase for precious metals.
“These acts of vandalism are not only a crime, but also affect our customers, local businesses and potentially emergency services,” Spectrum stated. “Spectrum’s fiber lines do not include any copper.”
No arrests have been made in connection with Sunday’s incident, according to Spectrum, which said it’s working with the Los Angeles Police Department in this investigation.
Spectrum added that it’s offering a reward of up to $25,000 to eligible individuals who provide credible information that directly leads to the arrest of anyone responsible for vandalizing or stealing network infrastructure.
To be eligible, the company said the information has to be provided to Spectrum at 833-404-TIPS (8477) and to the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the crime. Spectrum noted that it will prosecute those who intentionally damage its network.
In the meantime, Spectrum said its services in the Los Angeles area are being restored and thanked its customers for their patience.
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