By Noah Chandler

nchandler@cullmantimes.com

Cullman City Police are asking residents to be on the look out for suspects cutting down area power lines.

Cullman Police Sergeant Craig Montgomery said over the past week two areas have been struck, leaving several thousand dollars of damage.

Montgomery said the first incident occurred at 2 p.m. on Oct. 25. He said a passing motorist called authorities and reported a suspicious vehicle on U.S. Highway 31 South.

Montgomery said the motorist reported seeing a suspicious utility truck working on the power lines. The witness described a male in a white utility truck with a red boom holding the bucket.

Officers arriving at the scene noticed 300 foot of copper wire had been cut away from a power pole.

Montgomery said the second incident occurred between 5 p.m. on Oct. 30 and 7 a.m. Oct. 31. Montgomery said an employee for the Cullman Power Board discovered the theft on County Road 469. He said a total of 5,000 feet of copper wire had been stolen from a section of power poles.

Authorities are alarmed due to the danger the suspects are putting themselves and residents in.

“Not only is this dangerous but it is an inconvenience to homeowners,” Montgomery said. “Be aware of workers in your area. People that work for the Power Board wear uniforms and if there is any doubt about them call the police department. If they are legitimate they won’t mind showing officers their credentials.”

Cullman Power Board General Manager Mike Manning said this is first time an incident like this has occurred.

“They have left some of the lines hanging from the poles,” Manning said. “We have never had a problem with the power board system in the past. This poses a new danger to our public safety and we try to make sure we maintain on behalf of our customers. We are being vigilant and alert on behalf of the public to catch the people responsible.”

The Cullman Police Department asks anyone with information to call investigations at 775-7170.