Copper has grown in value and become a target for thieves.Florence Lo/Reuters
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The value of copper has skyrocketed in the last number of years. The pink orange metal has been in high demand for data centres, telecommunications services and EV charging stations.
But the increased value of copper has led to a rising number of thefts. These incidents have caused internet blackouts, disrupted phone lines and cost millions of dollars in replacements and repairs.
Irene Galea is The Globe’s telecommunications reporter. She’s been looking into what’s driving the surge in copper theft, and what’s being done to stop it.
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