Officials in Platte County are hoping you can help as they investigate multiple reports of stolen telephone wire.

According to the Platte County Sheriff’s Office, incidents have occured along 45 highway between Farley and I-435, the area just south of Platte City, and in Riverside.

The thefts in these areas have typically occurred after dark. It is believed the thefts are a means to obtain copper.

The theft of telephone line has the potential for disrupting telephone communications, including wireless services. The Sheriff’s Office is asking the public’s assistance in identifying the thieves and deterring further theft. Citizens are asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office if they observe vehicles parked near cellular towers or in the vicinity of telephone wires that are not clearly associated with a telephone company or telephone contractor.

The telephone line primarily being taken is covered by a black outer sheathing and has multi-colored pairs of wire underneath the sheathing. Telephone wire can vary in thickness and may be between 1” and 7” in diameter.

A known method for extracting the copper from these types of lines is to melt the telephone wire. The melting of the exterior sheathing produces large amounts of black smoke. If citizens observe any suspicious or unusual burning they are asked to contact their local fire department and the Sheriff’s Office.

Citizens with information regarding these thefts may contact the Sheriff’s Office at 816-858-3521 or the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS.