Copper Theft Knocks Out Eugene 911 Phone Lines
A 26-year-old Eugene man was arrested after cutting wires that silenced phone service to the Central Lane Communications Center.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Property Crime
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Copper wire theft at West Second Avenue near Chambers Street disabled phone communications to the Central Lane Communications Center on November 8, leaving the center without phone service for nine hours. A 26-year-old Eugene man was arrested on November 11 on charges including first-degree criminal mischief and second-degree theft.
Why it matters
The outage forced callers to be rerouted to outside agencies, adding three to five minutes of delay per call for a center serving about 250,000 people in Lane County. The case highlights how the theft of low-value metal can disrupt critical emergency communications across the region.
The suspect faces two counts of first-degree criminal mischief and two counts of second-degree theft after admitting to the thefts. Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the sale and purchase of stolen copper.
The players
Central Lane Communications Center
The regional dispatch center that handles emergency calls for Lane County and serves about 250,000 residents.
CenturyLink
The telecommunications provider whose lines were damaged, with repairs estimated at $5,000.
The details
Security camera video showed the suspect cutting a bundle of 600 wires and then squeezing through a locked gate at a nearby business. He told investigators he strips copper wire and sells it to local metal recyclers for $5 per pound. Phone lines were partially restored later in the morning and fully restored at 3:30 p.m.
Timeline
November 8, 6:35 a.m.: Copper wire theft disables phone lines at the Central Lane Communications Center.
November 8, 3:30 p.m.: Phone lines are fully restored after a nine-hour outage.
November 11: A 26-year-old Eugene man is arrested after video identifies the suspect.
Legal Context
This case fits a broader pattern of copper theft from utility and telecommunications infrastructure, where low resale prices at metal recyclers drive thefts that impose outsized costs on repairs and public services. Such incidents are increasingly prosecuted under criminal mischief and theft statutes that account for the damage done beyond the value of the metal itself.
Residents in Eugene and Lane County may notice slower emergency call handling if similar infrastructure theft occurs again. Local businesses that store or sell scrap metal should be aware that police are examining how stolen copper is bought and sold.
The takeaway
Protecting the wires that carry emergency calls depends on the scrap market as much as on the cables themselves. Businesses and property owners near utility lines should check fencing and locks regularly.
Further reading
For more on related thefts, browse the Property Crime section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KMTR.
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Should your community prioritize stronger protection of phone and utility lines from copper theft?
