HARRISBURG – The Saline County State’s Attorney’s office says over the past couple of months, the Saline County Sheriff’s Office has received several reports of people cutting phone lines from utility poles and stealing copper from the lines.

According to Saline County State’s Attorney Molly Wilson, the sheriff’s office has submitted reports to the State’s Attorney’s office and charges are currently pending on some of the offenders. However, Wilson says this continues to be an ongoing issue.

Wilson, along with Saline County Sheriff Whipper Johnson, is asking for your help in this case. If you see someone tampering with a utility pole, please call the sheriff’s office at 618-252-8661 and provide a physical location, a physical description of the subject and their vehicle. Any individual performing authorized work on utility lines are identifiable by a company name displayed on their vehicle and a badge displaying their name and photo identification. Utility services do not employ agents who operate unmarked vehicles.

Wilson and Sheriff Johnson appreciate any information you may provide to law enforcement in order to help them find additional subjects causing damage to utility lines.