Northeast Harris County a Prime Target for Fiber Optic Vandals

Houston-area internet service providers, along with the Harris County District Attorney's Office and 86 law enforcement agencies, have formed a task force to take on vandals targeting fiber optic lines. According to Harris County crime data, Crosby and Huffman are two prime areas vandals target when looking to make a quick buck from what they think are lines filled with precious metals, such as copper. The three zip codes with the most frequent telecommunications vandalism this year are: 77532 (Crosby), 77336 (Huffman), and 77039 (the Aldine area in north Houston).  

Telecommunication line vandalism is on the rise and driven by the rising price of copper. According to the Houston Police Department, the city has experienced a 17% spike in cases of cable lines being cut by thieves over the past year, with most acts of wire cutting happening between the 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. timeframe. Each incident causes ripple effects, interrupting essential services like 911 access, remote work, and even filling prescriptions.  Sgt. Robert Carson with the Houston Police Department says, "One act of vandalism can cut off service to tens of thousands of homes. In many homes, people are running small businesses. So not only are we talking about inconvenience, but we're also talking about big hits to a business's bottom line."     

In recent months, Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare has appeared in public service announcements vowing to use a new state law to go after vandals with felony charges. "My message for anyone cutting Internet lines is it is not going to be tolerated here.  We work inside our office with our task force and collaboratively with all 86 police agencies in this area. We will find you and we will put you in prison.”      

Drivers along Highway 90 in Crosby will soon see billboards raising even more awareness and asking anyone who sees or hears about telecommunication line vandalism to call 911. The Texas Broadband Association (TBBA) is also placing billboard messages near scrapyards where criminals may try to sell the lines once they've cut them down. TBBA Executive Director Shelly Botkin says, "The damage to critical infrastructure, such as telecommunications networks, presents a significant risk to public safety and national security – putting Texans at risk. It's also a huge inconvenience, costing anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars an hour in lost productivity."    

In fact, acts of fiber line vandalism are increasing. According to the NCTA (The Internet and Television Association), there were 9,770 reported incidents across the country in just the first half of 2025. That’s nearly double the number from the previous six months. Texas has been hit especially hard. A new study, published this month by economist Edward Lopez, estimates that between June and December 2024, the state lost about $18.1 million - not only from stolen materials but also from broader impacts like lost productivity.    

Making matters worse, the inconvenience is pointless. Botkin says vandals mistakenly believe cutting into fiber optic infrastructure will give them access to precious metals, such as copper. "Many of the modern fiber optic networks contain no precious metals. Fiber optics technicians respond almost immediately to acts of vandalism, but these glass strands are delicate. Repair work has to be done at the microscopic level. It takes time to fix the damage, especially when repairs have to happen overnight when most vandalism occurs." If the damage is significant enough, it could take hours or even a full day to make the repairs and get neighborhoods back online.      

Ask many people in Crosby and Huffman, they will tell you they have lost count how many times they've been knocked offline by vandalism. Lana Chase, a Crosby mom, says she's often left wondering when her family can reconnect. "I think it's ridiculous that a handful of people - up to no good - can cause so much disruption to workplaces, homes, and businesses. Especially those elderly and vulnerable people who depend on their Wi-Fi to connect with doctors or other important services through the internet."      

Area law enforcement and internet service providers are working collaboratively to stop vandalism, with the billboard campaign just one tool in raising awareness. Botkin added, "We ask the public to also join us in this effort; if you see something, say something by alerting law enforcement. To our friends and neighbors in the Crosby and Huffman area, most especially, ending vandalism will make a significant impact on reducing the number of temporary service interruptions. It will take all of us working together to end this behavior."