Comcast partnering with Crime Stoppers to catch equipment thieves

ATLANTA — A large cable company is partnering with Crime Stoppers to try and find the people who are stealing cable equipment, leaving customers without service.
 
Comcast says the crooks are behind several equipment thefts across metro Atlanta.
 
Channel 2's Amy Napier Viteri talked to one victim who watched someone steal the equipment outside of their home.
 
According to Comcast, thieves have been targeting amplifiers and other pricy components inside cable boxes and then re-selling them.
 
It's an issue that's been going on for years and causing outages for customers when it happens.
 
"I'm thinking it's the weather or something like that. Our cable and Internet was out all day," said Aliya Terrell.
 
Viteri visited several communities in south Fulton County where neighbors told her their cable was just restored.
 
Many had no idea the reason why it was out.
 
According to Fulton County police, there have been five thefts of Comcast equipment from cable boxes since Saturday. The most recent one happened Tuesday morning.
 
"When we woke up we saw that the green thing was turned over," Terrell said.
 
Terrell says her husband woke around 3:30 Monday morning after hearing noises outside their home in the Cooks Landing subdivision.
 
He saw two men in a red sedan parked near the amplifier unit. 
 
A Comcast spokesperson told Viteri the amplifier equipment is used to boost signals which supply video Internet phone and home security services to customers.
 
According to records, the thefts have happened throughout metro Atlanta at least since 2013, costing the company tens of thousands of dollars. 
 
"I'm just hoping it doesn't trickle down to the consumer," said Deon Adams.
 
Adams was alarmed to learn why their cable was out.  
 
"To find out now that it was because of theft is really upsetting because we pay a substantial amount to have that service," Adams said.
 
"It's just sad that somebody's coming to steal from communities and that's all that's happening our own people stealing from our own areas," Terrell said.

Now Comcast is partnering with Crime Stoppers to offer a $5,000 reward for information about who is stealing, selling or buying this equipment. If you know anything about these thefts you are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 404-577-8477.