The U.S based telecom service provider Verizon’s fiber optic and copper networks in many parts of the Northeastern States have been destroyed by criminals. The company have offered a reward of US$10,000 for any information that will lead to the arrest of the vandals. Thousands of Verizon customers have been cut off from critical services over the past few days as criminals have damaged or destroyed Verizon’s critical network infrastructures.
As it is evident , the sabotage is a planned one as the provider had announced expansion of its network services in the Northeast region. These malicious actions happen as the provider is facing a worker’s strike involving about 36,000 employees, primarily in its wireline business, in nine Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States and Washington, D.C. Verizon Wireless operations have had very minimal impact from the strike. There have been at least 24 suspected incidents of sabotage over the past week in five states in which services where cut off for thousands of residential and business customers, including a local police and fire department in New Jersey.
The company told they will find out who’s behind these highly dangerous criminal acts and will pursue criminal charges. These reckless perpetrators are risking the lives of countless Americans by cutting access to key lines of communications, especially to local police, fire and rescue personnel. If someone has an emergency and needs to contact local authorities, these malicious actions could prevent that from happening.
Criminals sliced fiber optic cables at a network facility box in New Jersey that cut services to customers and local emergency personnel, including police and fire departments.
Sabotage in Massachusetts in which phone services were cut off for customers for 16 hours. Also they did cut fiber optic and copper cables in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York that disabled voice communications and internet connectivity.
In the United States, federal law prohibits damage to the communication infrastructures. It is a violation of federal law to damage especially the critical communications facilities. The company had dispatched additional Verizon security teams in all states where this illegal activity is taking place. The company is also working with law enforcement to ensure its networks and facilities are secure and to keep their customer connected.
Verizon offered a reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of individuals who intentionally damage Verizon cables or facilities. Verizon urges anyone who witnesses sabotage of Verizon property or any misconduct or suspicious activity to call 911 immediately, and then contact the Verizon Security Control Center at 1-800-997-3287.
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