Bell Canada is raising concerns about a sharp increase in copper wire thefts across several provinces, calling the situation a growing crisis with potentially dangerous consequences. The telecommunications giant says thefts of copper cable are up 23 per cent so far in 2025, with more than 500 incidents already reported in the first six months of the year. Since 2022, Bell has tracked about 2,270 theft-related incidents across its network.

The company says the vast majority of physical security breaches it faces—88 per cent—are now linked to copper theft. Ontario is the hardest-hit province, accounting for 63 per cent of all reported cases. Cities such as Hamilton, Cambridge, and Windsor are experiencing some of the worst disruptions, but the problem is not limited to urban areas. In one rural incident this May, thieves felled 33 hydro poles near the Hound Chute Generating Station by Cobalt, Ont., and stripped them of an estimated $100,000 worth of copper wire.

Bell says copper theft is more than a property crime—it’s a public safety issue. The removal and destruction of network cabling can disrupt vital communication infrastructure, including access to 911 emergency services. It can also damage high-speed fibre optic cables often installed alongside older copper wiring, increasing both financial and operational impacts for telecom providers and customers.

The spike in thefts comes as copper prices climb. The benchmark global price recently hit a three-month high of nearly US$10,000 per tonne, fuelling a black-market demand that’s difficult for companies to keep up with. While Bell continues to invest in network protection and fibre replacement, the company says the losses and damage are growing faster than they can respond.

Law enforcement agencies across the affected regions have called for stronger deterrents and public vigilance.

Bell is urging governments and scrap metal buyers to crack down on illegal resale activity, warning that continued thefts could have widespread consequences for Canada’s communications reliability and emergency response systems.