The Portland Police Bureau have arrested two people and cited a third, in connection with copper wire thefts amounting to more than $2 million that disrupted communication services and impacted local businesses.

The thefts have taken place across the city over the last six months.

Processing Plant Was Located in the 8600 Block of Skidmore Street

Following reports of the theft of overhead and underground telephone lines under cover of darkness, the PPB’s East Precinct Neighborhood Response Team (NRT) launched an investigation. Leads pinpointed a location in the 8600 block of Northeast Skidmore Street used as a processing site for stolen copper.

The areas from which the copper wires were stolen were Northeast 162 nd Avenue and Northeast San Rafael Street, Northeast 102 nd Avenue and

See Full Page