The absolute inflation indicator has just gone off, and everybody better pay attention. During the last inflation bout in the 80s, construction sites and apartment buildings were robbed of their copper wiring by gangs. NYC was almost stripped. With copper prices over $3 it means you can make a fortune stealing copper wire. The first of a ton of cases has taken place in SoCal and a phone wire theft has shut down Verizon phone service in one entire county.

The wire, owned by Verizon Communications, was stolen near the intersection of Sixth Street and Hellman Avenue. According to Verizon spokesman Jon Davies, the company started noticing trouble on the circuit at 7 a.m.

It was the second instance of copper wire theft this past week in the Inland Empire. On Friday, Riverside County sheriff's deputies arrested two men on theft and vandalism charges for allegedly cutting AT&T lines. According to officials, the lines were cut for copper, which was valued at $30,000.

There is another piece about a different theft HERE

Riverside County Sheriff's deputies first responded to an alarm activated by phone lines about 4 a.m., according to a sheriff's press release. But even with the help of phone company officials, the cause of the alarm could not be found.

More than an hour later, the police were called back, and this time found a cut section of phone lines. The lines were cut for the copper inside. The value of the wire is estimated at $30,000, according to police.

A google search shows many other pieces in many other states. This is bad news.