Copper thieves have left more than 700 homes and businesses with connectivity issues in Dungannon, Northern Ireland.

As reported by ISP News yesterday, the thieves struck around 1:15am on Tuesday (May 28), where they targeted Openreach's local network.

The damage caused to the network has impacted broadband and phone connectivity in the area.

Irish News reported that a "large quantity" of copper telecoms cable was stolen.

According to locals, alarms had been set off around Clonfeacle Road. Police arrived to find "a quarter mile of cable” on a nearby road.

Officials have called for anyone with information about the theft to come forward to the local police.

Copper theft is a common issue for broadband companies and has plagued Openreach in the past.

Three weeks ago, Openreach confirmed that copper cables were stolen from its network in New Forest, England.

Openreach has been deploying anti-theft technology to prevent the rise in copper cable theft. Only last month, Openreach reported a 30 percent decrease in cable theft after it deployed forensic tracking technology SelectaDNA.

However, this new technology cannot be applied to cables that are already underground, meaning thieves can still continue to target copper cables.

In 2023, BT confirmed it would not be selling new voice copper telephone lines on its Openreach national network. The rollout of fiber will reduce thefts as the material holds no value to thieves.

Last year in Oxfordshire, cable thieves left a UK village without Internet connectivity for almost two weeks after more than 500 meters of copper cable was stolen from Openreach’s network.