Copper wire thefts have grown at an alarming rate in Eastern Canada — with Ontario being the hardest hit area.
Just this week, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) reported four men were charged in connection with 33 hydro poles cut down in May to get to the copper in the rural Ontario township of Coleman — some 200 kilometres from Sudbury.
Hydro providers aren’t the only ones impacted by copper theft. Telecommunications companies are battling with it too.
Bell Canada reports copper theft is growing at an “alarming rate†across Eastern Canada.
The telecom giant sounded the alarm over a sharp rise in copper thefts across Eastern Canada — over what they say is “a growing crisis that is endangering public safety and disrupting essential communications infrastructure.â€
Bell Canada reports copper theft is up 23 per cent year-over-year across Canada — with more than 500 cases this year alone. The telecom company has recorded more than 2,270 thefts nationwide since 2022.
High copper price has contributed to the rise in theft
“Copper thefts has been popular and has been for a number of years due to the price paid for scrap copper,†said Const. Joe Brisebois, an OPP community safety officer.Â
The price of copper is predicted to reach record highs of $12,000 in 2025, as reported by Mario Lagos in an . The increase in copper prices is largely credited to demand being greater than the supply.
Brisebois said theft of copper piping and wiring typically occur from abandoned residential homes, new homes under construction or construction sites where copper cables are stored during building operations.
Since midsummer 2024, OPP have seen a new type of copper theft: cutting down telephone lines from hydro poles and taking them for the copper.
He said this has increased throughout 2024 with fairly regular reports of this happening in many areas across the province including Caledon and Dufferin.
“In many instances, wires are cut down and picked up later. We have also received reports of hydro sites broken into for copper,†he said.
Where in Canada is copper theft happening most?
Bell Canada said Ontario leads Eastern Canada with 63 per cent of all copper thefts. Ontario hot spots including Hamilton, Cambridge, and Windsor. Quebec follows with 12 per cent of cases, most concentrated in the Saguenay region.
However, this year New Brunswick has emerged as one of the Canada’s hot spots, with more than 80 incidents in 2025, Bell Canada said. The Fredericton—Oromocto corridor is particularly affected, with nearly 80 per cent of the province’s thefts occurring in this area.
Repeated incidents have occurred in communities such as Stanley, Hoyt, Fredericton Junction and Keswick Ridge.
What are the consequence of copper wire thefts?
“Copper theft is a serious crime that directly threatens the safety and well-being of Canadians,†said Mark McDonald, EVP and chief technology officer at Bell Canada in a statement. “These thefts are not just about stolen copper; the perpetrators often damage other infrastructure such as fibre cable and the crime can potentially put lives at risk when people can’t call 911 as a result of the damage.â€
In 2023, residents outside Perth, Ont., were  leaving those who rely on a land line without communication. Bell confirmed at that time the area had been repeatedly targeted.
In a statement earlier this year, Hydro One spokesperson Tiziana Baccega Rosa said Hydro One works with law enforcement agencies across the province to monitor and prosecute metal theft criminals.Â
“Metal theft is a serious issue for all utilities and electricity customers. Metal thieves put themselves, along with our employees, first responders and potentially the public at risk of severe injuries and death when copper wire is removed from lines or transformer stations,†she said. “Our electricity infrastructure should only be accessed by Hydro One’s highly skilled employees or approved contractors.â€
What is being done about copper wire theft?
Bell Canada said it’s installing alarms that alert police to infrastructure tampering, deploying additional security guards and surveillance cameras, working closely with law enforcement and pursuing legal action against offenders.
Bell urges provincial and federal governments to strengthen protections for critical infrastructure by increasing penalties and amending the criminal code. The company is also calling on the Senate Transportation and Communications Committee to revive its study on theft within the telecommunications sector.
In 2014, Hydro One announced new groundings installed will be made of a copper and steel composite, which has no scrap metal value.
“Signage at our stations alerts would be thieves of this,†she said. “As a matter of security we do not share information on the measures we have in place or the actions we take to protect our infrastructure.â€
Will tariffs impact copper wire thefts?
U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 50 per cent tariffs on copper imports. On Wednesday, Trump announced on Truth Social copper tariffs would take effect Aug. 1
Bell Canada spokesperson Geoff Higdon said it’s too early to determine how U.S. tariffs on copper or broader fluctuations in copper pricing might impact the value of copper in Canada or influence the frequency of copper wire thefts.
“What we can say is that we are already seeing a concerning rise in these incidents, which is why we continue to work closely with governments and law enforcement to strengthen penalties and improve enforcement around this crime,†he said.
Will all these thefts cause an increase to phone or internet bills?
When asked about whether the significant copper theft being seen by Bell would mean service fee increases, Higdon said no — at least not right now.
“As for the potential impact on consumer pricing, our focus remains on protecting our infrastructure and minimizing service disruptions,†he said. “While theft-related costs are a concern, there are no plans to adjust consumer fees in response to these incidents at this time.â€
What should the public do?
Both Bell and Hydro One tell people to report suspicious behaviour around critical infrastructure to their local authorities.
Police are requesting the public’s assistance by reporting suspicious activity observed where copper can be found.
Bell said if you see unmarked vehicles around telecom poles, individuals tampering with utility poles or the sound of cutting or grinding metal to contact local authorities immediately.
To remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
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