SNOQUALMIE, Wash. — Two men are facing charges in connection to cable theft between Snoqualmie and North Bend earlier in December.
Joshua Jay Eixenberger and Shane Wendon Israel were charged with first-degree theft, first-degree malicious mischief and possessing stolen property in the first degree on Dec. 20.
“It’s directly impacting the safety of the citizens of Snoqualmie, North Bend and elsewhere in King and Pierce Counties by doing this," said Officer James Kaae of the Snoqualmie Police Department.
The two were arrested on Dec. 16 when police were called to Elk Fields on Railroad Avenue Southeast for reports of a U-Haul and a man in a nearby ditch.
On Dec. 16, police officers from Snoqualmie and North Bend responded to the scene. Officers had previously made multiple arrests for theft and damage to Lumen and Comcast cables in the area. When officers arrived, they found the van with about 300 feet of cut copper communications cable in the back. Eixenberger and Israel were detained and later arrested.
“This started impacting our area back in August is when we first started getting theft reports out here including a notice from Lumen that they had a loss of service out here," Kaae said. “We later discovered was that male was loading precut sections of Lumen owned telephone cable made out of copper that they'd staged down along Highway 202. And we're picking it up to go take it back and sell it a scrap metal.”
Snoqualmie police are working with the King County Sheriff’s Office, King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and Kent police and other agencies in this investigation. Kaae said it seems to be the same group of people working in concert to accomplish these thefts.
Comcast employees estimated the cost of the damage and theft to be in excess of $100,000 and possibly as high as $500,000, according to charging documents.
In a statement, Lumen said "copper theft in the Seattle area and around the state of Washington has increased this year costing Lumen hundreds of thousands of dollars to restore service." The company says copper theft has increased to approximately one to two times a month — and sometimes even more frequent in cities like Black Diamond, Enumclaw and Kent.
The theft can impact hundreds of customers for up to up to three weeks before the damaged facilities can be fully restored, according to Lumen.
When theft or vandalism occurs, Lumen said the company engages with local law enforcement agencies and welcome customer's assistance by reporting any suspicious activity around a manhole, green service pedestal or telephone pole to police.
The incident was the fourth arrest Snoqualmie police have made for copper wire theft along Railroad Avenue Southeast.
According to the Snoqualmie Police Department, the thefts in the area may be linked to similar crimes in King County, including one incident that knocked out Valley Com 911 for nearly 24 hours. Valley Com provides 911 dispatch services for police and fire in south King County.
“Hopefully the idea is that we can spread the word that you shouldn't be out here doing this you will get arrested you will go to jail and be held accountable for your crimes," Kaae said.
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